Devotions with Pastor Delinda Jeronimo

When I went to Timor to spend time as a volunteer missionary, I thought I was going to save “those people”. Misconception one. I thought I’d be teaching “them”. Misconception 2. I thought I was better than them. I believe I’ve shared before, my lessons begun the first night I arrived, when the ladies from the church gathered and shared things I would never have heard here, free of judgement or ridicule. I learned transparency and grace.I learned waiting. The first month was slow going. We hadn’t started classes yet, I was tired of waiting, I wanted to start the work. But in the waiting I was learning, and God was already doing the work.
 
I learned what true self-sacrifice is as I watched this man, (my future husband) work hard only to get $5/week which he’d turn around and pass out to the young men at the youth center and only keep $1 or less for himself. I watched as he gave a naked man one of the two shirts he owned and put it on him when he stumbled into one of the church services one Sunday morning.
 
I learned about fasting. I learned patience, flexibility and humility. I learned to see people through Jesus’ lens.  And most of all I learned, I can’t do the saving, only Jesus saves. 
​Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  I came back forever changed.
 
We are in Cactus, Texas this week sharing in God’s mission.  We are not here to save the people, or teach them.  We are here to be the hands and feet of our Savior. What He does with our efforts is His to decide. I anticipate that our group will come back more “changed” than those we will be serving alongside.  Pray for us this week as we represent our church and serve God’s children!

Blessings,
Pastor Delinda