“Please send someone else!” I read those words this week and was shocked again by the realization of who said them and to whom he was talking. It was one of the greatest leaders of all time speaking to God. Honestly, I can’t even bear to think of the effects those words have on my psyche. If I would have asked God to send someone else I would have never met Adolphas; A young man in his senior year of high school who lost his sponsor and was wondering how he would finish school. Sandy and I had the privilege of telling him that we had found a sponsor who would commit to helping him finish high school. Adolphas looked at us and said, “Please tell my sponsor Thank you. They are allowing me to dream again.” That is the power of presence!
Usually at the end of a trip, one of the things I ask people on Global Outreach teams to do is close their eyes and reflect on all the children, youth and adults they had contact with during the prior week. With their eyes closed and hopefully the people’s faces illuminated in their minds eye, I ask them to think about how many of those people needed just to see them and hear their story of faith or to sing along with them in songs or to be led in some silly American game? I ask them to think about how many of the people they saw, were impacted by God’s presence through their presence? And then I ask them the most penetrating question of all. “What would have happened if you had not come?” “Now,” I say, “think about the void in your own memories and your own soul. Think of what you would have forfeited. But don’t just think about yourself. Think about the people you saw. How would their lives be unchanged…uninterrupted by the grace and hope your presence provided?” Where would they be if we would have said, “Send someone else?” And what if God had sent someone else? That is another thought that causes me brain pain. The ones waiting for me and you would still be waiting…just like the children of Israel would have been waiting if God would have given up on Moses when he said, “Please send someone else!” It’s never too late. Someone is waiting for you!
Check out our GO Team schedule on our website at horizoninternationalinc.com.
Also check out the Horizon Gift catalogue. You can say “I love you!” with a goat this Valentine’s Day. Or Instead of sending Chocolates…send Chickens. That special someone will love you for it. Really!
