During our first week in Zambia, my team did ministry with a pastor in a little community called Jonloinga. We did door-to-door visits and street evangelism in the mornings. We would return to the church for lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon, there was a 2-3 hour church service and two of us would preach.
Walking around the community was always quite an experience. We would end up with a crowd following us and people peering out of their homes. The children would chase us, shouting, “Muzungu! Muzungu!” (which means white person).
On our second day, two of my teammates and I went with the pastor and a few other church members. We noticed a little boy in a Spongebob shirt who had joined the mass of kids following us. I bent down to greet him and he shyly came to shake our hands. After we walked on, he just kept appearing. He would smile, eager to hold our hands and walk a little while with us. Eventually, he wandered off with the other children.
We went back to the church to rest and have a snack before the service. While we were waiting, a group of kids came in the door and our little Spongebob friend was with them. Africa time always runs late, so we were waiting for over an hour for people to arrive for the service. In the meantime, some of my team began playing with the kids. We sang songs and danced and laughed.
My little Spongebob friend came to sit by me and hold my hand. I began to tickle him. His entire face lit up and his little body shook with laughter. Pure joy.
As service began to start, my team moved to our seats in the front. Some of the children, including my little Spongebob friend, came and perched in the chairs beside us.
At some point, a lady from the church marched to the front of the room to shoo all of them to the back.
I watched as my little friend went out the door. I was frustrated. They weren’t hurting us. We were enjoying sitting with them and loving on them. I began praying over them and asking for Jesus to be in the situation.
At one point in the service, I looked back and saw my little friend peering through the door. I smiled and motioned him to come in and sit with me. He ran to the front of the church and I pulled him into my lap. As he laid back against me, he yawned and began to rub his eyes. In a matter of minutes, he was out cold in my lap.
I looked down and couldn’t help but smile. His sweet face looked so peaceful and relaxed.
I began to study him. He was dirty. He didn’t smell very good. His clothes were tattered and full of holes. I noticed it looked like someone had dropped acid on some of his toes. But in that moment, his sweet little face looked so content.
My heart began to melt.
“Jesus, how many times has this little person known he was loved? How many times has he felt safe when he closed his eyes to sleep? Does he have anyone who loves to make him laugh?”
I held him for a while. Several women came up to me, offering to take him to the back of the room to nap. I politely declined, assuring them that he was okay in my lap.
The pastor leaned over and said I should let them lay him in the back with the other sleeping children, that he would be more comfortable, so I conceded. She motioned for someone to come get him. The woman scooped him up. As she tried to lay him down, one of the other mothers objected. The lady took him outside and came back without him.
My heart broke.
I was furious, angry like I haven’t been in a long time. I was mad at the pastor and ladies in the church. I felt like they threw him out like dirty bath water. Instead of welcoming him in and loving him, their actions showed that he wasn’t worthy to be there. I was angry with myself because I felt like I had let him down. He trusted me. He felt safe and I let him be taken away.
I spent time trying to process it with the Lord, trying to forgive myself and the people in the church. In that moment, I felt like they were more concerned with appearance than protecting, caring for, and loving the people in their community. I don’t think that’s how Jesus would love those people and I had a hard time choosing in to do ministry alongside people who didn’t understand the Lord’s heart.
Jesus kept reminding me of His goodness. He told me that he was in our time with the church, that even though so much of it felt so wrong, He could use it for His good. My heart posture fully shifted.
Jesus just wanted me to show up and be obedient to what He was asking and be His hands and feet the best way I knew how. I had peace about the situation with my little Spongebob friend and was confident that Jesus would use my interaction with Him for good.
Later in the week, we arrived at the church early and were all sitting in the front talking. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a group of boys walk in, but I didn’t pay much attention. Em said, “Claire, look.”
As I turned, I saw my little Spongebob friend running to me.
I immediately began to tear up.
I scooped him up into the biggest bear hug and began to tickle him.
The pastor was able to translate and I learned his name is Immanuel and he’s 3 years old.
The pastor told me she had received a call from someone nearby to the church day. The caller said there was a little boy at the church walking around asking for the Muzungu.
He had come back looking for me. My heart melted again.
Immanuel stuck with me all through the afternoon. We played and laughed and he sat in my lap through the service. His two older brothers had come with him and I got to meet them too.
Before we left I scooped him up and hugged him tight. I told him and his brothers that we wouldn’t be back, but hoped that they would continue to come to the church. When I got in the car, he came to the door of the church looking for me again. His older brother picked him up so he could see. They both waved and smiled until we were out of sight.
The Lord is sovereign and does use all situations for good. That was a day of celebration for my entire team. God redeemed our entire week of ministry there. We each felt so much peace driving away and knew the Lord had given us a bigger glimpse into his heart and a small look into where he’s taking that little church.
I’m continuing to pray for my little friend Immanuel and his brothers. I would love if you did too. Pray that they get connected to that church. Pray that they find a home and safety there. Pray that they would come to know Jesus.
