Hibba was scared at first. The waves were loud and their force nearly pushed her off the surf board. As I positioned her on the board, I turned the board toward the shoreline, facing Hibba’s back to the waves. She looked back nervously and as I yelled “BARAM! BARAM! BARAM!” (PADDLE! PADDLE! PADDLE!). Scared, Hibba yelped as she caught her first wave that day.
I approached the shoreline and found Hibba torn between shock and a smile. Unable to contain a laugh, I held out my hand for a high five and said, “M’zyem!” (Good!) Still nervous, Hibba decided to follow me back into the ocean. We repeated the process and Hibba, once again, faced her fear. This time, I approached the shore and discovered a joy-filled teenage girl. Before I could asked, Hibba hopped on the board to be pushed back out. For the next 30 minutes, we smiled and laughed non-stop.
Pictured Above: Hibba and I after our first day of surfing
Surfing with Hibba, I gain a revelation about Jesus’ words: “Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
In my past, I often missed opportunities to harness the spiritual forces (or waves) in my life because of fear. At first, like Hibba, I looked at the turbulent waters and listened to the crashing waves. Despite having a “Good Teacher” offering to help me, I often refused to turn my back on the waves and trust him (Mark 10:17).
Yet, Hibba, who did not know me, chose to trust me. How pure and vulnerable is the faith of a child? Hibba’s choice was a reminder of my own need for child-like faith. Just as Hibba trusted me then found joy and fulfillment in surfing, so I’ve found the joy and fulfillment through the Holy Spirit during our ministry in Africa. I’ve allowed God’s Spirit to lead me into random neighborhoods and uncomfortable encounters. Consequently, I have witnessed wide-eyed Muslims healed of knee and ankle pain from my prayers. I’ve loved and been loved by orphans who have no reason to trust me. And this is the miracle of child-like faith.
Above: Lukas Drummond (teammate), Hicham, Isham, and Zakaria, and I, throwing those Shakas
This is why Jesus wants me to be like a child – to trust in his goodness, be loved, and truly live. He wants me to say “Yes!” in spite of my doubts and TRY. And when I catch that wave, he shouts and celebrates with me as I experience the joy that the Lord made possible in that moment – and that gives me strength! (Nehemiah 8:10).
My time serving orphans at surf camp is done, but I will never forget the lessons Hibba, Asraft, and Abraham taught me – loving God and being loved like a child. This is “pure and undefiled religion.”
