Our InScribe
member Marcia Laycock, wrote: “As
writers of faith, we have chosen a field of words. Whether we are writing poems
or novels, articles or songs, we are planting a vineyard with our words, a vineyard
that will provide nourishment, encouragement and perhaps even redemption to
those who read our work. It is a vineyard that will reach into eternity.”
Writing
for an International Audience
Several
years ago, a friend and I attended a writers’ retreat which was part of a
Caribbean cruise. Before the cruise, I asked the question, “How can God use my
writing to touch people from around the world?” It seemed like a strange question, because I
knew that with the internet, my articles could be accessed from any point
around the world. Still, I felt God had something special in mind for me.
International staff on the cruise ship
As we
started our cruise, I discovered the staff and crew members were mostly
international, from sixty-three countries. Most were people-oriented,
compassionate and fun-loving, and I found it easy to strike up a conversation
with them.
That
first afternoon, I met Musa, a Zulu from South Africa, at our safety drill. He
was pleasantly shocked when I greeted him with, “Sawubona!” a Zulu greeting I had
learned on my trip to South Africa the year before. My room attendant, Sarunrat
from Thailand, told me about employee lifestyle, working up to fourteen hours a
day and living in staff quarters in the lower decks of the ship.
Significant conversations
Conversations
sometimes turned to personal needs. Harvey from the Philippines, holding his
tray of drinks in the buffet restaurant, shared his loneliness, even as cruise
participants and activities swirled around him. A believer, he spent much of
his free time alone in worship and prayer.
Maria, away from her family in Mexico for the first time, was homesick. Hussein
from Pakistan was due shortly for a home leave and was anxious to meet his
six-month-old daughter for the first time. I prayed for the needs of these
people.
Prayer with an attendant
Then
one evening when I returned to my floor, Carlos from Honduras, one of the room
attendants, needed a compassionate ear. His supervisor had just reprimanded
him. Though Carlos was an experienced attendant, this was his first week on our
cruise ship, and he needed to learn new procedures. I hugged him, and together
we prayed that God would help him adjust to his new environment and work
competently. “Praise the Lord!” he concluded.
A Ministry of devotional readings
Towards
the end of our cruise, I wondered how I could further encourage my
international friends. I had brought several of my published devotionals with
me, and gave one to each of those staff members. I prayed that those readings
would meet strategic needs.
God had
answered my question, “How can I write for an international audience?” in a way
I would never have imagined.
I will
never know the impact those readings have had. But as I think back to that
experience, I’m reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words:
“I planted and Apollos watered; but it was God who was, all the time, giving the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6 Weymouth NT),
My
part is to be faithful in what God has called me to do with my writing. And God
will do the rest.
Prompt: Now it's your turn. What
outreach or ministry opportunities has God given you through your writing? How
have your words provided nourishment, encouragement or redemption to someone
else?
I always look forward to the new theme each month - especially in anticipation of how you will treat it. I absolutely loved the examples you shared of how God used you on that cruise. It was very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your affirmation, Tracy. I actually based this blog post on an article I wrote after the cruise. It was chosen as the winner from all the writing seminar participants. God works in mysterious ways!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this uplifting blog, Sandi. Like Tracy, I also look forward to your introduction to each new theme. I appreciate how God used your pre-cruise question as a prayer. You asked, "How can God use my writing to touch people from around the world?" God understood your willingness and gave you amazing opportunities to share his words of love and encouragement with an international community.
ReplyDeleteThanks also to Marcia for her "vineyard of words" idea. Excellent "food for thought" and for writing.
Note to Fellow InScribers: After our Third Annual Move, I am without Internet for I don't know how long. I have been unable to read the last couple weeks of blogs. Hopefully, I will catch up when I am reconnected with the Wonderful World Wide Web. (I know the web is not all wonderful, but what you folks write are the sweetest of grapes, and I miss reading them.) I am presently writing with a friend at a restaurant where I can access the Internet.
This is beautiful Sandi--how you faithfully followed the Holy Spirit's leading and ministered to these international staff members. So encouraging. Thanks for sharing this with us.
ReplyDelete