Last week, I (Alison) had the privilege of participating in worship, prayer, and devotions with a group of 12 women from Missions of Hope International’s (MOHI) tailoring class.  The women live in different villages throughout Mathare Valley.  Each day, they come to MOHI’s main center on the edge of Mathare to learn how to sew skirts, dresses, school uniforms, purses, aprons, and other items. After six months in the program, they will graduate and receive their own non-electric sewing machine to start home businesses to provide for their families.

I was touched by how exuberantly the women praised the Lord in worship, declaring, “Let Jesus alone reign!” The MOHI pastor who led the devotional that day spoke about Romans 8:28-30– “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”  The pastor shared his testimony about growing up in Mathare and stealing as a youth just to get by. His mother was shamed in the community because her son became known as a thief.  Yet through salvation in Jesus Christ, he was redeemed and devoted His life to ministry. He encouraged the women that no matter how desperate their present situation may seem or the struggles they are going through, God is working all things for their good. Jesus is conforming them to His image.  Through the Son, they are children of God– called, justified, and glorified.

His encouraging words brought tears to my eyes as I looked around at the women assembled together, wondering what their individual stories are, trying to comprehend their daily lives and the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual struggles they face in Mathare. The darkness that figuratively and literally surrounds their families each day.  Pressing fear for the safety of themselves and their children.  The constant anxiety of wondering whether they can feed their children or themselves that day.  The perpetual heartbreak of losing loved ones and friends to preventable diseases.  The physical or emotional trauma that they may have already experienced.

As we begin our ministry work at MOHI, the Lord reminded us of the following exhortation from Ephesians 4:1-2:

As missionaries, people sometimes elevate us to a higher spiritual status.  Because we are in full-time ministry in a foreign field, we must be “super-Christians,” right?  We must be ultra-spiritual and have it all together.  We must not question our faith or God’s calling upon our lives.

Yet the reality is that we are still growing and learning in our faith walk.  Every day we’re still learning to trust who God says He is and who He says we are– even though we’ve experienced His faithfulness and provision over and over again.  Sometimes (maybe often!) we aren’t patient with the slower pace of life here (given our westernized view of productivity) or with the crowds of people everywhere and seemingly-endless throngs of traffic.  We’re not always gentle with each other or even with ourselves.  Pride and ego often creep into how we approach work and interact with others.  Sometimes we think we’re right and others are wrong, or that our way is best, or that our opinion matters most.  We don’t always bear with others in love.

In short, there are moments, perhaps many, when we aren’t walking in a manner worthy of our calling.

I think about those women in that tailoring class, imploring Jesus to reign in their lives.  Having the faith to simply leave their homes each day and join in fellowship with other women to collectively make a better life for their families.  Believing that God will do what He promises, even when it seems impossible in their present circumstances.  That is a faith to be admired and emulated.  I have a lot to learn from them about walking worthy.

We are in this together.  As women of faith, we each experience moments of joy and pain, disappointments and triumphs, and darkness and light. Yet one constant remains– we are God’s children. He is conforming us into His image.  We walk side-by-side in our pursuit of Him, encouraging each other along the way.