My ego was shot, and my confidence crushed. I distinctly remember the words I told my wife and kids after being hired at Walmart.
“Do not tell anyone I am working at Walmart!”
After experiencing one of the most difficult years of my life in 2019, 2020 seemed like it was off to a great start. I had been contacted by an organization who works with orphans in Uganda, to consider a position as their Child Sponsorship Director.
My natural thought was, I had just recently met a king from Uganda and had the privilege of having him stay with our family, and this is how God must be leading me to work in Uganda.
When I wasn’t selected for the position, it felt like what was a good start to 2020, was now an unwanted continuation of 2019.
A couple months later, the Executive Director of the Uganda ministry I had interviewed with, gave my name to another organization looking for an Executive Director for their work with orphans in another African country.
And then came Covid!
My meeting with this organization took place just a couple weeks before the lockdown started for Covid. I was at the end stages of the house renovation I was on and out of money to pay myself.
And thats when I saw Walmart was hiring on the spot at our nearby distribution center. Do you remember the empty shelves at Walmart?
Halfway through the second day on my new job, just after lunch, I was standing with my coworkers to clock back in, when one of the ladies asked, is it true that you’re a pastor?To this day, I still dont know how they became aware I was a pastor.
But it became very evident to me, very quickly why God had me in my new role, driving a forklift.
As I was still struggling with my ego, I came across a video about a guy who was dying from Covid in a hospital in Ireland. As this guy shares his story about the “Cleaner” coming into his room, what we would call a “Janitor,” I was crushed and in tears.
The “Cleaner” was the only other person besides the doctors and nurses allowed into the Covid rooms. This “Cleaner” had returned to Ireland from serving as a missionary in Nigeria for fourteen years. As the “Cleaner” asked and was given permission to pray for this guy, he started getting better that night.
I couldnt help but think and put myself in the “Cleaner’s” shoes and wonder if he was asking the same thing I was asking God. For all these years God, I have faithfully served You, and now the only job I can get is as a “Cleaner,” or working at Walmart?
Here is the link to the actual video I watched, if you are interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Pp98cK4YIoM
After I was done feeling sorry for myself and set my ego aside, I realized God had me right where He wanted me and around the people He wanted me to know. And so I went from, don’t tell anyone I work at Walmart, to God has given me this amazing opportunity to work at Walmart.
The first lesson I learned was: God never wastes an opportunity to put me right where I need to be and use me as He wants, when my perspective is right.
Once I had asked God to forgive me for my pride and ego and simply surrendered and stated, God use me however you want to use me, wherever you want to use me, everything changed.
A couple months later, as I was driving the forklift on one of our many fourteen hour days, I felt the Holy Spirit began to speak to my heart about partnering with a king to serve over 1500 orphans and 1200 widows in Uganda.
As crazy as the idea felt to me, I was wondering how I was going to convince my wife, this is what I was hearing from God.
As I prayed and grappled with this idea myself, the question I asked God was, “Do you really need me to care for orphans and widows in Uganda?” The very quick response I felt in my spirit was, No. I just need you to be obedient.
And so it took me driving a forklift at a job I was originally, completely embarrassed to have, to speak to me about caring for orphans and widows in Uganda and beyond.
The second lesson I learned was: Sometimes God has to allow me to reach my lowest point, before speaking to me about my greatest possibilities.
The third lesson I learned was:I have a whole new perspective and appreciation for the hardworking people and supply chain processes which allow all of us to go by food whenever we want. It really is amazing!
This was a long but important story for me to chronicle on our journey of relaunching Faces With Names, now Faces With Names International.
As we continue to lay the foundation of serving over 1500 orphans and 1200 widows in Uganda, I want to personally invite you on this journey of obedience with us.
I humbly ask you to join us as we strive to fulfill our mission & vision:
To help orphans and widows move beyond a life of survival, and thrive, to fulfill their God given purpose.
To allow you, the opportunity to care for orphans and widows in their distress.
Next week, we will begin a monthly donor campaign which will allow you to join us in making our mission and vision a reality. There is no monthly donation that is too small or too large. We will be providing more information on how you can get involved.
If you are ready to join with us now as a monthly partner, click the button below.
Click here to become a monthly partner with Faces With Names Intl.
Thank you in advance for joining us on our journey and making a difference in the lives of orphans and widows!
Cheering You On In Christ,
Eric Mills, President
Faces With Names International
