She stood in front of 150 strangers and was asked to speak. When Guatemala short term trip missionary Kathy Sikora was asked to give her testimony at a church service, she expected only 15 people in the audience.
While on our mission trip to Guatemala, our team was asked to share at a village just outside of Chichicastenango. I was excited, anxious, and nervous about this village visit, mainly because I had decided to share my testimony for the very first time.
As I started to pray about what I was going to say, one thing was very clear to me: I was to do this without any notes. What I was going to say would come directly from the heart, which was okay with me because I was only expecting 15-30 people to show up.
Well, God had other plans as probably about 100-150 people showed up to greet us. HELLO STAGE FRIGHT!
The crowd ranged from toddlers to grandparents, and if I’m being completely honest I was panicking inside. Apparently the pastor had made an announcement on the radio and the entire village showed up!
I never thought I would share my story in front of 150 complete strangers, but when God says go, heck you just gotta go! It was like I was standing on the edge of a cliff preparing myself to jump head first.
The crowd quieted and the pastor looked at me. It was time for me to speak.
As I braced myself to take the ‘stage’, Matthew 28:20 popped into my head—And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
I began to speak, finding that my words were not my own. What exactly I said is blurry, but I know it came out exactly how God intended.
I didn’t wake up that day knowing I was going to speak in front of an entire village but God did, and He more than equipped me to share His heart.
I am finding that it is in times when my knees are quivering and my hands are shaking, that God uses me the most. It’s the times when I can’t rely on my own strength that I know I can fully rely on a good God who gives me strength in my weakness.
How have you seen God’s power in moments when you were afraid?
Is God calling you to serve him on a short term mission trip this year? Click here to find out how you can go to Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America this fall.