Thursday, February 18, 2010

More Reflections

Ok I know that I have been back from Africa for almost as long as I was there but sometimes these things take a long time to process…

I have been home since Thanksgiving and almost every day someone asks me, “How was Africa?” Usually they ask in passing and don’t really have the time to hear everything that went on, so my usual response is “Oh, it was so amazing” or “I had such a great time” or “It was life-changing”. But to be honest, I do not have a word in my vocabulary, and there is probably not a word in the dictionary, to describe what my time in Africa was like. I mean, how can you describe waking up to children singing worship songs every morning? Or making a premature baby who never made eye contact with anyone or even smiled, smile for the first time? Or being able to love someone in their last few days on Earth who had never experienced love before? You can’t. It’s impossible. But these are just a few of the things that happened to me while I was there. These are just a few of the things that have changed my life forever. And, these are just a few of the reasons that I can’t wait to go back to Uganda. Experiencing worship through the eyes and hearts of pre-school aged orphans is more than you can imagine. Falling in love with little Eric, even though he threw up on me numerous times each day, and being able to be responsible for causing his first smile touched me deeply. Seeing little Walter take his last breathe while being able to sing to him and read Scripture over him was transforming. God has taught me so much about unconditional love and service. But, I know that I have so much more to learn. As seems to always be the case when you are serving others, I was served much more than these children. These children that the world sees as poor and wretched gave me gifts that can never be taken from me. They are worth more money than I will ever have. And I know that they are just a small portion of what my Heavenly Father longs to give me.

“I love you, Lord! You answered my prayers. You paid attention to me, and so I will pray to you as long as I live. Death attacked from all sides, and I was captured by its painful chains. But when I was really hurting, I prayed and said, ‘Lord, please don’t let me die!’ You are kind, Lord, so good and merciful. You protect ordinary people, and when I was helpless, you saved me and treated me so kindly that I don’t need to worry anymore. You, Lord, have saved my life from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. Now I will walk at your side in this land of the living. I was faithful to you when I was suffering, though in my confusion I said, ‘I can't trust anyone!’ What must I give you, Lord, for being so good to me? I will pour out an offering of wine to you, and I will pray in your name because you have saved me. I will keep my promise to you when your people meet. You are deeply concerned when one of your loyal people faces death. I worship you, Lord, just as my mother did, and you have rescued me from the chains of death. I will offer you a sacrifice to show how grateful I am, and I will pray. I will keep my promise to you when your people gather at your temple in Jerusalem. Shout praises to the Lord!” ~Psalm 116

Please continue to pray with me as I wait patiently for God’s directions to wherever He leads me next.