Seeing God’s Face
As you may know from the last blog, the Lord led us to make family with the people at the local dump for the month of April.
I am not exaggerating when I tell you that literally every single day, we got to hear/see/experience something amazing at the dump. Every single day the Lord welcomed us into His kingdom and showed us a glimpse of his face in the people we met.
Manga who became one of my closest friends.
Wanda who is a jolly Rasta man.
Shoes who God has anointed to speak.
And a very special woman named Fufu.
(After a week and a half, we had still not seen her face, because of the wrap she wears around her head. We guessed that maybe something had happened to her face, since her eyes always seemed dark and bruised [Turned out to be eyeshadow]. But this woman works harder than any other person in that place).
This is Fufu
We had been working with our brothers for a little over a week. And at this point, my sister Jacquie and I had really been the only two who consistently went to the dump (God had called each of us to different ministries this month).
But on this day, under special circumstances, my teammate, Melissa was kind of forced into coming with us.
So the three of us sat down on the porch and started asking the Lord what He had for the day and if He even wanted us at the dump. We prayed, and as I sat there freezing from the wind, all I could think of was a warm cup of tea.
So that was it.
(Let me brag on the Lord for a minute)
It was clear to us that the Lord was asking us to bring them something warm. But we didn’t have money to buy anything, nor did we have any time to go buy things. But the Lord had literally provided the night before without our knowing through leftovers and house warming gifts: spaghetti, impala casserole, coffee, and tea. Enough to feed 20+ people.
It was on that day I finally came to the realization that when the Lord asks you to do something, He will also provide you with the means to do it.
When we arrived we had the privilege to stand before our brothers and sisters and proclaim that God had heard their prayers and HE was being faithful. The HE had supplied the food and that we were only the messengers and carriers of His blessings.
The Lord put it on our hearts to ask them not to thank us but to thank the Lord. It was His praise to be had. Not ours.
As we were packing up to leave, we started taking a few pictures. And in the middle of taking pictures, a woman had shown up that I hadn’t seen yet. She was beautiful. It was as though her face were actually glowing with the joy of Christ.
It wasn’t until a double take that I realized that i had known this woman for a week, now. Our sister Fufu had taken her wrap off for a picture.
After making a scene over seeing her face for a few minutes and being filled with joy, Melissa pulled me aside.
She made sure that this was the woman we had been talking about. (We had told the house that there was a woman who’s face we had never seen). And after saying yes, Melissa shared a conversation that she had with God right before we came.
While the three of us were preparing food before we left that morning, Melissa felt like she shouldn’t impose on our ministry. Since she hadn’t been there yet, she was planning on just staying back while Jacquie and I went and praying for our time there.
But while she was praying, the Lord spoke very boldly to her.
He asked her the question, “Don’t you want to see my face?”
And that’s exactly what happened.
Melissa didn't go into the dump expecting to see her face. But the Lord wanted to show us something. I believe that God wanted us to understand His consistent presence there. He wanted us to see His direct presence inside of his daughters and sons at the dump. And He literally showed us His face through our sister, Fufu.
The dump is the most difficult place I've ever had to say goodbye to. But God reminded me that whether I am there or not, He will be. He doesn't need me to do His work; or need me to bring His word. But He allows me and blesses me with every minute of work that I get to do. And every once in a while, He gives me a glimpse of His face–His glory.
And where His face is, His kingdom dwells.
