I don't know who made this statement, but I find it to ring true in my own life...
"Remember, when you see a missionary coming home broken in body and weary in soul, it isn't the privations or dangers or things he's done that leave a deep hurt; it's the things he couldn't do that break his heart."
I am often overwhelmed by all that is left to be done. I'm not talking just about the things on my daily to-do lists that I don't seem to have enough time to accomplish (although that is a daily occurrence). I'm not even talking about my email inbox that seems to hover at about 100 emails still to be answered, even when I try my hardest to stay on top of correspondence. I'm talking about the overwhelming sense of the unfinished task that lies before me.
The vision God has given us, the passion He has emblazoned in my heart to see Africa transformed, is much larger and more encompassing than what we are doing now. I feel as though we are only barely scratching the surface of what we could, and should, be doing and what we are called to do. I understand that it's a journey, a process. I also can look back and see how far we have come (and it sure is a long way!). But I also get frustrated as I try to keep my head above water with what is on my plate now while also longing to be doing so much more.
The needs are so great. I look around me and can almost tangibly feel the hopelessness and despair that seems to reside in Qwa Qwa. Week after week, I learn about someone who has passed away--someone who is related to someone I know or connected to our ministry in some way. Death is a startling daily reality in Africa.
The things I can't yet do are the things that break my heart. They weigh heavy on me...