Being Observant

Lately, in devotions here at work, we have been learning the Bible Storytelling technique that our Ministry Programs use here in Uganda! It is an oral method of telling a Bible Story and engaging listeners in discussion. This morning, one of our new staff members told the story from Luke 13:10-17. He told the story about the woman who had been crippled for 18 years. It was the Sabbath day, and Jesus was teaching in the synagogue. There He saw the crippled woman and He called her unto Himself and He healed her. The rulers of the synagogue were angry with Jesus because he healed the woman on the Sabbath Day. They considered this "work." They said, There are six days of the week which are designated for work! Those who want to be healed should come on one of those days, not on the Sabbath! But Jesus corrected them and said, "You hypocrites! Don't each of you untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? Then ought not this woman, who is a daughter of Abraham who Satan bound for 18 years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?"
When I hear the story, I think the point of it is to learn that Jesus was about compassion and people. The rulers of the synagogue were all about strict rules and laws, and had forgotten to just love people!
But when we got to our discussion this morning, our staff drew out other observations. They said, "I am seeing that Jesus was observant! He saw the need of the woman before she even came to Him."
Hmm. Yes! Didn't think about that!
But I have been thinking about this whole "meeting needs" thing a lot lately. My friend Jill wrote a blog about the way her dad is so intentional about meeting the needs of people in the States, and it just got me thinking. Here, the needs of people are so apparent. People ask for help. But in the US, we have such HUGE pride issues. Everyone takes care of himself/herself! You don't ask for money! You don't ask for help! 
I have been thinking a bit about what kind of ministry Ruco and I can have when we get back to the States. Like I said, in Uganda, it is so easy to orient yourself around the needs of others. But how will I do that at home? I remember what it was like when Ruco and I lived at home. It is so easy to just get into your little routine, your comfort zone, and take a blind eye to the needs around you. You have to be SO much more intentional (like Jill's dad) in meeting the needs of people in America. You have to be observant!!! You have to be on the lookout because people won't always ask you for help!!! My prayer is that I will be able to do that when Ruco and I return home for grad school in the fall. My prayer is that we will be observant and intentional about meeting needs. Pray for that with me, it has been on my heart so much!

So, I also thought I should leave you with some photos of my friend Keren and I! She was an intern with us in 2008 here in Uganda! Now she lives and works in Mozambique, but flew just to see us! We had a blast, and have many plans to work and live together in Africa after grad school! :)

She made the Starbucks logos for our coffee cups! I said I wanted Starbucks, and voila! She made it happen! ;) There ya go, meeting needs. ha!

The best Starbucks date I have ever had!