Love, Joy, Peace, Kindness…We Give
Written by Justine Nagawa
In September 2014, I got my first job with Reach One Touch One Ministries (ROTOM) as the Project Coordinator for a children’s program. This job required me to establish a children’s care center from scratch into a successful child development project reaching 125 children at that time. In a community with a lot of poverty, grievances, hatred and disputes, this was nearly impossible. Having many of the 125 children and their families sharing their problems with me and working alongside them, was a great leadership experience that was guided only by God’s grace. Many of these families’ struggles reminded me of my own experiences and I felt like I was living this chapter of my life again.
The need was great, and it was all so overwhelming. After the first three months, I wrote a resignation letter because I was convinced that it was not the job that I asked God for. Somehow, God spoke to me personally, and through different people, and said that I was the right person to help these children and their families. I finally settled peacefully into this position and with prayer, fasting and God’s guidance, the situation began to change. One year down this road, the community had greatly improved. God was tremendously working in the lives of these children and their families. A few of the children had given their lives to Christ, joining and attending local churches. God was providing, protecting, liberating, and bringing reconciliation within this community.
Today, some of these children are attending the university; many are in high school and others are completing primary school. Of course, my role at ROTOM has changed over the years but I did not stop being a mentor and friend to these children and their families.
I look at this particular job experience as my spiritual test to Galatians 5:22. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We read about these fruits of the Holy Spirit in the Bible, but what do they really look like? How do we apply them in our day-to-day lives and those surrounding us? For me, this job experience taught me to love others selflessly. My pride, my needs and interests often became second after those of the children and families I served. I needed to surrender to God and let each of these fruits grow within me, and they surely did. Today, I continue to share these fruits at work, at home, at church and in my community.
Friends, it is my prayer and hope that you can each reflect on how each FRUIT of the Holy Spirit is evident in your own life. Take time to record steps you can take to help that fruit continue to grow. What kind of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness…are you giving to those around you?
Galatians 5:22-23
