"Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others."

Last month in our update, one of our reflections was, "One's calling is dependent on their gifts, and one's ministry goes beyond the official job description." I thought I would share a personal example of how God was able to use me for ministry despite my reluctance to go beyond what I thought was my "job description". A few days ago, I was asked to read a Bible verse at a memorial service for a former headmaster of the Ilboru Boys' Secondary School, Stewart Carlson. We live in the Ilboru area and this secondary school is one of the top-rated schools in the country. I was told that the former headmaster was an American, and the planning committee really wanted an American to read a Bible verse.

The service was on a Sunday afternoon. I had been extremely busy preparing for the LMC assembly and had been looking forward to a little relaxation with my family after church. I honestly did not want to attend the service. But my colleague persisted, practically begging me to participate. I reluctantly agreed. I later spoke to my friends about being asked to do this. Most said something along the lines of, "You haven't been here long enough. You'll learn how to say no before too long!"

It was because of this obligation that I reluctantly rushed through my Sunday afternoon meal with my family, donned my suit and tie, grabbed my Swahili Bible, and traveled the short distance to the school. All the time I was wishing I had said "No". Upon arriving, I greeted the committee members and they thanked me for coming. As the service began, I learned that the reason they wanted an American was not just to read a verse from the Bible, but to represent the family. I was completely humbled when they asked me to sit at a place of honor with the Prime Minister, the District Commissioner, Members of Parliament, the current Headmaster, and the assistant to the Bishop who was leading the memorial service.

Throughout the service, we were reminded of Stewart Carlson's love for Tanzania. He not only served as headmaster but served as a teacher later under another headmaster (they emphasized that he practiced servant leadership.) He taught the students to love one another, to respect their elders, and to honor their environment. In his will he requested that his ashes be interred near the Ilboru Secondary School. As part of the service, the Prime Minister and I poured Stewart Carlson's ashes into a special place created just for the ashes. A plaque was revealed with his name, birth date, dates of service at Ilboru, and the date of his death. Then the Prime Minister and I planted and watered a new tree next to the site where we interred the ashes. At the end of the service, many of the school's graduates (now leaders in their communities) pledged financial support to the Stewart Carlson Memorial fund. They showed us a new computer room. To those of us who consider a computer an extension of our right hand, it is hard to believe that one of the best schools in this country had no computer training or internet access for the students until just recently.

My attitude was transformed during the service. I read (in Swahili) from Philippians 2:1-4 which reminds us to be of the same mind and have the same love for one another as Jesus. Following the service I exchanged greetings with an old woman who expressed her sympathy to me. I thanked her for the condolences and learned that she had taken care of the Carlson children when they lived here, and that she was very close to the family. I immediately felt quite uncomfortable because I felt that she should have been the honored guest instead of me. Perhaps she would have made a better family representative than I. After talking for a bit she told me, "Mpe mama pole na wasalimie mama na watoto." The literal English translation would not make much sense, but she essentially said to give her regrets to Mrs. Carlson, and please greet Mrs. Carlson and the children on her behalf. I responded that I would pass along her greetings and condolences to the family. After all, I was the one representing the family. I had already decided by this point that I would make contact with the Carlson family. My mother's maiden name is Carlson, so perhaps I was an adequate representative for the family after all.

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Phil 2:1-4.

While at the beginning of the day, I felt like I needed to put my own interests first, the spirit moved me to accept my obligation. By acting as representative for the Carlson family, God was able to use me in ways that I hadn't considered. I was indeed humbled and glad to have gone to the service. I discovered that the message in Philippians 2 is our job description as Christians. When we humble ourselves as Christ did, there is no limit to the ways God can use us.

Your fellow servant in Christ Jesus,

Daniel Smith

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Dan, Cathy, Sarah, Emily and Grace Smith
PO BOX 15128
Arusha
Tanzania
http://www.goodshepherdkettering.com/pages/mission.html
smithfam91@yahoo.com
or
missionaries@goodshepherdkettering.com
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