A rope of many strands
I think the theme for this past trip has to be teamwork. This was clearly one of the most enjoyable teams I have had the pleasure to lead to Africa. The way that the team fell together in their various roles, and worked together within and across those roles to provide care to the lovely people of eastern Uganda was truly amazing and very efficient. But beyond that we had a good time with each other and became closer friends. I was able to enjoy the trip much more readily as a leader because there were very few problems to solve, any issues were worked out by the team as a team leaving me free to concentrate on the more pleasant aspects of leadership. The effeciency of small teams such as the pharmacy improved the overall operation of the larger team and so on. Certainly when a job (mission) is approached with a team attitude the work is easier for all and the results are enjoyed all the more. During our dinners I kept hearing comments like “so and so helped out with such and such”, and “someone” did a great job with this, which made it so much easier for us to do that”.
I love reading the end of many of the letters of Paul, such as the last chapter of Romans, where Paul sends greetings from those who are working with him as well as giving them credit alongside of him. You get the picture that the early mission trips were being performed by teams of friends and coworkers in the gospel that had a spirit of comradery and joy in spite of all the hardships they faced. In fact, God has designed us to work best in a team. Consider the following from Ecclesiastes chapter 4 from the Contemporay English Version -
Ecc 4:9 You are better off to have a friend than to be all alone, because then you will get more enjoyment out of what you earn.
Ecc 4:10 If you fall, your friend can help you up. But if you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble.
Ecc 4:11 If you sleep alone, you won’t have anyone to keep you warm on a cold night.
Ecc 4:12 Someone might be able to beat up one of you, but not both of you. As the saying goes, “A rope made from three strands of cord is hard to break”.
This is highly applicable within the Church at large of course, see 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 for Pauls discourse comparing individual members of the Church to the different parts of the human body. The Church functions best when all the members work together as a team, and every member has a function which is important to the overall body of believers.
So to this team, I thank you for all your wonderful work among the eastern Ugandan country side, you have made a difference in the lives of many this winter, and I thank you also for your wonderful living example of teamwork which has made a difference in my life. You truly functioned as one rope of many strands.
Dr. D