“Hurry Up…And Wait!”

Lessons in Patience, Part Two

The people I’ve worked with and the parents of my students will agree I do well showing patience, as a teacher.
In my daily life though, I annoy myself with my own impatience!
Every now and then, I will actually stand in front of the microwave and command it to “Hurry up!” AS IF a microwave isn’t already astonishingly fast at reheating food and boiling water!
I do the same thing with my little 4-cup coffee maker. I put the water in, measure the coffee, then stand there and wait impatiently while it makes my hot, delicious coffee in under 5 minutes!
Seriously, I just don’t like the process of waiting…it bugs me. How about you? I can’t be the only one feeling this way, right?


I learned a lesson in patience when I was in Lesotho, Africa, on my first international missions trip.

A co-worker who had been on a missions team to Africa warned me ahead of time that I should pray for extra helpings of grace and patience. He said that some people on the team, and some of the nationals there, would rub me the wrong way. He said that it would actually be a good thing though because God would use them like sandpaper, sanding down the rough edges, while developing Christ-like love and patience in my life. My friend could not have been more right!


It was the summer of 2004 and I was excited to be experiencing many “firsts” in my life.
* my first time being on a plane
* my first time being in Africa
* my first time becoming a clown for kids’ programs
* my first time speaking through a translator
* my first time on a trip with the legendary Pastor Nat Saginario

Pastor Nat has been leading short-term missions trips for over 20 years! Several of the team members, who had been on a trip with him before, asked me, “Are you ready to hurry up and wait?”
Huh? What? “Hurry up and wait?” I really had no idea WHAT they were talking about!
But, once we arrived in Africa, I quickly began to understand…


You see, like a good team leader, Pastor Nat was insistent that team members be prepared and be on time. So, our team of Americans would hustle around to be prepared and on time…and, then we would wait…and wait…and wait some more…
Yes, of course, it was important for us to be prepared.
     “But make sure in your hearts that Christ is Lord. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you about the hope you have. Be ready to give the reason for it. But do it gently and with respect.” 1 Peter 3:15
Yes, of course, it was important that we be dependable, being where we said we would be at a given time.
     “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
But, I quickly learned that it was also important to be flexible with our schedule, to be open to change, and to be accepting of others who were clearly NOT time-oriented. All of that requires a big dose of patience!
     “Therefore I beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, putting up with one another in love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3

The missionaries who had been there for years would just laugh and say to us “T.I.A. = This is Africa!”

I now finally understood the phrase “Hurry up...and wait!”

PLEASE ~ continue to pray for me, as I am trying to wait patiently… I am still in the process of figuring out where to spend the next 5 months of my life! It is my heart’s desire to volunteer on an international mission field, coming alongside an established ministry. I am trying to be prepared, to be faithful, to be flexible, & to be patient!