This is a good, good place. Ghana is a beautiful country, and I am serving in a beautiful ministry.
I have been able to help and teach in the fourth grade classroom of Faith Roots International Academy so far here at City of Refuge, and my team also has Fridays set aside for going into the village for evangelism.
The first Friday morning in Ghana, we set out with Pastor Dean, the Director for Campus-Wide Ministry of CORM, on a prayer walk through the area, to bless the land and to hear more information on what the history of the area is. As we walked and prayed, Pastor Dean felt the Spirit leading us to the heart of the village to continue praying and to see more of the region. He felt the Spirit moving and that good, big things would happen through us going, but it was “driving distance” so we hopped in a tro tro (the public transportation, usually fifteen-passenger vans or something similar) and traveled about half an hour. We then decided to get off at the most pleasant surprise of a stop. When Pastor Dean first told us the change of plans, I felt expectant but unsure of what was to come. However, all my worry faded away as we were standing directly in front of Missionaries of Charity, a branch of the original in Calcutta, India, founded by Mother Teresa. (who is now officially a saint, much to my joy!)
For many who know me, they know that I love Mother Teresa and am so in awe of the selfless, life-changing work that she did in her lifetime. The sacrifices she made and the boldness with which she lived inspire me. So, I can hardly express what excitement I felt as we were not only standing in front of the Missionaries of Charity, we were about to enter it. This branch is specifically a place of hospice care for children suffering from terminal diseases, like HIV/AIDS, and sometimes mothers bring their sick children and decide to leave them there without ever returning.
As we entered, my breath was taken away by the beauty of the lush, thriving flowers growing all around the center. We continued in and sat under a gazebo, which was placed in the middle of the main building, so that all around we were wrapped by a screened-in porch and able to see the children playing inside. With the breeze gently blowing, we met Sister Mary Margaret, who told us all about the beautiful work they do, then we proceeded to pray and sing over the ministry and everyone a part of it.
I teared up with sadness for the heartbreak of the situations these children are in, but I also cried with joy at the nearness of the Lord. Though I felt God so surely in that moment, I also sensed that He was present in that place at all times.
He brought to mind the verses of Isaiah 49:15-16 which say,
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”
Though a mother, as horrific as it may seem, could forget her child, our God is the God who will never forget His child. He knows every name of every child there in Missionaries of Charity in Ghana, and He also reminded me that He knows my name.
From being so fully known and fully loved, then I can live and breathe and see the beauty of the creation around me. And what better beauty to see as we exited the grounds than the flowers all around?
Though it’s been a few days, my Lord has called to mind that those flowers set such a wonderful example for us. We are even reminded to consider how they grow- “they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Luke 12:27)
I often do fall into the trap of worrying what I will wear, what I will eat, what I will say, what I look like, what others will think of me… and the list goes on and on. Even as I’ve dedicated these eleven months to serving Him and growing in Him, I still struggle with so many portions of my identity. But in that peaceful moment in the beautiful garden, and I pray for all my moments after, I instead chose to soak in the voice of my Creator, as He whispered, “just bloom.” Even the wildflowers wholly trust their Creator, and their beauty is breathtaking, so how much more precious am I in His sight? God even says, “Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine… You are precious in my eyes, because you are honored and I love you.” (Isaiah 43:1,4) Oh, with an intimacy like that, how could I fear? I am precious in His eyes, I am redeemed, I am known. Even if it takes being reminded of this truth every morning, the truth still remains.
That is a lesson I have been trying to learn all my life, and I believe that I will still be learning it for many years to come. My worth and all my beauty is found in the One who will never forget me, who has my name engraved on the palms of His hands, who wakes the flowers up to bloom and glow. In the same passage in Luke, it says, “For all the nations seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.” (Luke 12:30) He knows what we need more than anyone else. And as I continue to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” (Matthew 6:33), He will add the little things unto me. For now, I am so content and thankful for the little moment of beauty He gave to me through Missionaries of Charity. And I pray that as He speaks these things to me, each and every one of you would grasp the promises of intimacy and provision He gives, too.
