Here we walk the earth, through the jungle, miles in the
morning to get to church. Here we lay down our selfish pride, cast aside
mirrors, and let Christ define our beauty. Here we have no house, but make a
tent full of friends our home. Here we have come, forsaking our families to
follow God, only to find family, communion with our Father and brothers and
sisters. Here we came because we worship God. Here we came to worship God and
so we do.
We have not
forsaken all. Far from it, we are finding out All in All the Great I AM. Laying
under the stars we meditate on our insignificance. Standing in the Greatt Rift
Valley we praise God for our usefulness. A child hangs from every limb, and ten
more press in from every side, just to touch us, only to talk. We are not
significant because of who we are, or what we are doing here, but because God
allows us to be his living love to the people here.
Life in this close
community is not simple, but Christ’s love covers over a multitude of wrongs.
We are weak but He is strong it as simple as that. In the valley there is
extreme poverty among the people of the IDP (internally displaced people)
Camps. Water is a scarcity, and clean water nearly impossible to come by.
Children run around hungry but glad for the distraction we bring. Parents talk
about the homes they left with longing, longing for the farms that feed them
and the people that were killed in the political uprising. The first night as a
team we questioned God. Why? Why God? Why do I have much and they have little?
Why couldn’t you have done this to me in their place? Why don’t you multiple
the simple amount of food we brought so there could be enough for everyone. WHY
LORD ARE YOU SILENT WHILE THEY SUFFER?
God answered us.
“Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace
yourself like a man; I will question you and you shall answer me. Where were
you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked
off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone while the morning
stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Who shut up the sea
behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its
garment and wrapped it in thick darkness when I fixed limits for it and set its
doors and bars in place?”
So we fall on our
face in worship Which is why we are here in the first place. God is Holy and we
are not. He is the savior and I am not. I will praise Him all my days for He is
faithful.
Faithful. Promise
keeper. We petition Him, simply cry out to Him to remember His promises to His
people and relieve their suffering, to provide for their needs.
If only pictures
and words could fully convey all that I see, taste, hear, feel, experience, and
learn. Then I would spend every free moment writing to you that you may be
blessed as much as I by what is going on here. Sadly, I cannot do God’s work
here justice. However, know this.
Here I find peace
because I am where I belong, following hard after God, for the fist time in
years. Here my life is being changed daily. Here I am returning to the joy of
my childhood. Here I learn the simple truth of children’s songs. Here I am
finding ‘I am weak but He is strong, Yes, Jesus loves me’ Amen
