Today we're sharing a story and thoughts from Esther who serves with Mustard Seed International:

“Why me?” asked the Papuan woman sheepishly.

In a culture that shuts down the dreams and aspirations of young women, Constance, a shy twenty-something had never been validated. When given the opportunity to attend TransformNation, the family patriarch forbade her to participate, but Constance gathered the courage to walk away from her biological family, for the sake of a greater family and a more significant kingdom. Even after this triumph, Constance struggled to accept that someone might actually see value in her.

“Why NOT you?” responded Jules, a teacher who had sensed God’s leading to mentor this young teacher-in-training.

She recognized in Constance a profound need for acceptance, a longing to be known for who she really was, not just another “number” among a tribe. Jules has found a way to make this kind of connection with a few of the young woman of TransformNation, investing time, energy, emotion and her self into each one. She says, “Love is not always a pretty word. If we really care for those we mentor, we have to hold them accountable Biblically.” In other words, mentoring someone means not only sacrificing time and energy but willingly speaking the hard truth when needed.

Jules has found a way to make this kind of connection with a few of the young woman of TransformNation, investing time, energy, emotion and her self into each one.

She says, “Love is not always a pretty word. If we really care for those we mentor, we have to hold them accountable Biblically.” In other words, mentoring someone means not only sacrificing time and energy but willingly speaking the hard truth when needed. This requires “walking in their shoes,” as much as possible – even when your backgrounds and cultures differ significantly.

True discipleship is committing for the long haul to “sit down and stay awhile,” to linger in the laughter and tarry through the tears… all for the sake of having the privilege of speaking into the life of another when it really matters – speaking truth in love, celebrating joys and grieving losses.

As you might imagine, Constance agreed to invite Jules into her world – to share the past, present, and future with her as they intentionally “did life” together. Juliana responded to the Father’s leading, and almost five years later, the result of her investment is a woman who has discovered “herself” in the process. Constance is currently preparing to graduate and move into her own teaching environment with more grace and self-confidence than she might have otherwise known. As she goes, she carries with her the tools to mentor others, just as Jules mentored her.

“Sometimes pouring into others is tiring, but good. Work doesn’t feel like ‘work’ when the goal is kept in view: that those I mentor would one day do the same for others. Maybe there will be more people in heaven because I gave of myself to invest in the life of these students.”

– Esther, serving with Mustard Seed International