Danae and her husband Kyle have only recently launched into ministry in Uganda, and she is still finding her way. Part of her role is to come alongside young women attending King’s Kid School, and to provide discipleship and mentoring to high school students living on campus.
“Some days, I really didn’t want to go,” Danae Schmidt confessed. “I would imagine driving across town on those rough roads, navigating tight spaces, trying not to hit motorcycles or pedestrians, all the while trying to avoid being hit by trucks myself.”
Sometimes, it’s hard to go to work.
Even as she faithfully pushed through her reluctance to make the commute, Danae still faced the challenge of her own uncertainty. “What’s the plan?” she would wonder every day. “What are the objectives?” It was hard for her task-driven nature, not knowing.
“Sure, I was leading a Discovery Bible Study during weekly chapel,” she said, “but outside of those two hours, I had no concrete plans when I visited the school. I just showed up.”
Yet, as Danae continued to be faithful in her commitments, over time she began to realize that her simple obedience – being present, being available – was bearing fruit.
“One day, I noticed a girl who was a bit of a loner,” Danae shared. “Because I had no concrete plans, I had time to spontaneously sit down to have lunch with her. She ended up telling me how she struggled with feeling angry and mean, but since coming to the school and learning about Jesus, she no longer wanted to feel that way. She didn’t want to bully others anymore. I encouraged her with some scriptures and found her hungry for the Word of God. In the weeks since, a sweet relationship has formed between us. It has been such an honor to walk alongside her.”
As Danae continues to walk, agenda-less, into whatever good works God has prepared for her each day, she is experiencing more encounters like this one.
“I was once told that if I scheduled every moment of every day, I would never be available for the unexpected,” she shared. “God has been interrupting my task-driven, scheduling nature ever since! We will never know the amazing ministry opportunities God has for us until we create margin in our schedules and lives, take a step of faith, and just show up.”
