I felt so small! So dependant on this God that I thought I knew so well. That's the thing about African village life! It will shatter every ignorant assumption your have ever made. Sooner or later, you will be forced to think. I realized how little I actually knew. How inadequate I was in comparison to how proud I was previously. I was learning that brokenness and humility are not optional. If my desire is to know God and to be used for His glory, the only way that will happen is if I crucify my self and choose the path of brokenness and humility. Village life was simple. Wake up to a beautiful sunrise, go bathe (with a small bucket of unclear water in an enclosed grass square area for privacy) and eat breakfast. Hike for an hour, two, or three, maybe up a mountain.
They have a morning service consisting of praise and worship that could stir up the most stale and stagnant heart. Spirit-led preaching...
Then, my favorite time! The time that I SO looked forward to! I would spend every spare second with the kids and babies!
Maybe it was their innocent wonder and curiosity about this crazy foreign white girl who was always either smiling, crying or both!
Maybe it was because spoken language was not necessary! They are thrilled and satisfied with the universal language of a loving smile, a gentle hand grasping theirs, a tickle resulting in an outburst of giggles.
There was nothing in the whole wide world that I would have traded even for ONE second of this pure bliss!
I found my soul's delight as I sat holding a little child, effortlessly looking past the filth and stink. In God's abundant goodness, He allowed me to see what He saw as I looked into each child's eyes. A priceless, cherished, beloved, sacred, God-ordained blessing that was longing to be delighted in. Whether for a few moments or a few hours.
I would pray the mighty blood of Jesus over each child's life. Then I would do what I enjoyed oh SO much! I would show them love in action.
I realized that to tell a Malawian that God loves, often means nothing. Why? They have no grasp of the concept. Biblical, Jesus-like love is non-existent to them. So first I loved them with my expressions, eyes full of love, reassuring hugs and touches. Hours of joyful, carefree play, long walks abounding with skipping, jumping, running, and LOTS of giggles! Their are no language barriers with giggles! All of this and so much more to demonstrate love. Through this, they learn love and that my love was real! So in turn, I could now point them to their perfect Creator, Lover, and Redeemer!
As my story closes, realize I have so much more! I could share for months of all of my experiences! I will share more after I have sifted through more of my thoughts. The point I want to make with you is all of this works in America too! Live your life spending each moment loving others with Christ-like love and in doing so , they will be directed to the supply of our love. Indeed, they shall know we are Christian's by our love!
Oh and may we all learn to NEVER resent the times when God gives us more than we can handle! May we see that He is giving us another opportunity to give our burdens to Him. May we see His glory revealed through our insufficiency!
They have a morning service consisting of praise and worship that could stir up the most stale and stagnant heart. Spirit-led preaching...
Then, my favorite time! The time that I SO looked forward to! I would spend every spare second with the kids and babies!
Maybe it was their innocent wonder and curiosity about this crazy foreign white girl who was always either smiling, crying or both!
Maybe it was because spoken language was not necessary! They are thrilled and satisfied with the universal language of a loving smile, a gentle hand grasping theirs, a tickle resulting in an outburst of giggles.
There was nothing in the whole wide world that I would have traded even for ONE second of this pure bliss!
I found my soul's delight as I sat holding a little child, effortlessly looking past the filth and stink. In God's abundant goodness, He allowed me to see what He saw as I looked into each child's eyes. A priceless, cherished, beloved, sacred, God-ordained blessing that was longing to be delighted in. Whether for a few moments or a few hours.
I would pray the mighty blood of Jesus over each child's life. Then I would do what I enjoyed oh SO much! I would show them love in action.
I realized that to tell a Malawian that God loves, often means nothing. Why? They have no grasp of the concept. Biblical, Jesus-like love is non-existent to them. So first I loved them with my expressions, eyes full of love, reassuring hugs and touches. Hours of joyful, carefree play, long walks abounding with skipping, jumping, running, and LOTS of giggles! Their are no language barriers with giggles! All of this and so much more to demonstrate love. Through this, they learn love and that my love was real! So in turn, I could now point them to their perfect Creator, Lover, and Redeemer!
As my story closes, realize I have so much more! I could share for months of all of my experiences! I will share more after I have sifted through more of my thoughts. The point I want to make with you is all of this works in America too! Live your life spending each moment loving others with Christ-like love and in doing so , they will be directed to the supply of our love. Indeed, they shall know we are Christian's by our love!
Oh and may we all learn to NEVER resent the times when God gives us more than we can handle! May we see that He is giving us another opportunity to give our burdens to Him. May we see His glory revealed through our insufficiency!
