Picture of a Servant…Timothy
Meet Timothy, a Ugandan in his mid 20’s who served as one of our translators while on our trip this month. Although we were from two very different worlds we somehow just hit it off instantly. We spent a lot of time cutting up and joking on each other but we’d often fall into a deeper conversations…about his conversion from Islam, his engagement, or the poor people of his country. He loved to call me “Salongo” which means “Father of Twins”…evidently a big deal in their culture.
But what I loved about Timothy was that he was such a servant. He was technically working as one of our translators but he did so much more than that. In Buloba he walked beside me up from the well, carrying a 40 lb jerry can full of water. He dug ditches with us for the footings of the new church walls. And I mean this dude could dig…I nicknamed him “the machine”. He drove our van everywhere we went for 10 days. When we would get back home in the evenings he would stand outside and help the ladies who were cooking dinner for our team.
And then finally, on Sunday I’m sitting there in Gaba Community Church with about 500 people worshiping. I look across the room and guess who is standing there behind a video camera shooting the service? Yep…It’s Timothy.
But the thing about Timothy was that he could have easily played the “that’s not my job” card. He could have hung out at the van while we went down to the well. He could have sat off to the side while we dug ditches. He could have gone in the house and rested from a long day while others finished preparations for the meal. He could have asked others to share in the driving. He could have let someone else take care of filming the service. But he didn’t…he served.
I see Jesus in Timothy. He embodies what Paul talks about when he writes to the Philippians…
You attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant. Philippians 2:5-7
Timothy did not hold on to his rank. He was not entitled. He didn’t say “That’s not my job”. He had eyes to see needs and a heart to fill them. He took on the very nature of the one he follows and became a servant. I learned so much from Timothy. Want to be like him.
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I know you were probably blessed to just be able to spend some time with him, and that is great.