This has been the song we have sang for the past month and will probably use it a ton to teach English to kids all year long. But it took on a new meaning for me this week.
I spent more time this week with kids than ever before. We got to spend time in Kanana, Montasoua which is three hours outside Antananarivo. The area has actually been developed by the Scripture Union here and is run by two long term missionaries from the UK.
They at first got the land 4 years ago and saw it as a blessing and went to work building a home and set up areas for short term missions to come. It quickly exploded into the town center for a 10 km + span around them. They are the hospital, the school, the soup kitchen, market, and anything one might need.
Mary and Martin have been here for over 25 years and have a heart for others. This overflowed into our ministry opportunities. I choose to do the children’s clubs.
They warned that the walks would be long. Like 3 miles both ways uphill, downhill, through a rice field, move away from the Ox carts, and get starred at for miles. Our longest walk was 7.3 miles total. The long walk was what first intrigued me. But I got the opportunity to do so much more than see the beautiful Madagascar country side.
I got to see children, God’s children who couldn’t understand my language fully and I theirs.
But we could express love in real tangible ways. My new thing is to teach kids to fist bump but then “explode” your hand and shoot your arm back and say “pow or boom”.
The fist bump is easy but the rest takes more work, intentional time with each child. But I have a plan now, I try to find one kid who I can teach well and is super excited about it. Then I try all I can do then call him over and motion to show him and tell his friend in his native tongue.
They get excited and the bond grows deeper.
My bond with that one kid (his name was Zoo btw) gets deeper and I start another each time. I also raise that kid to be a leader among his peers instilling something he may not get anywhere else.
It may seem easier to just play a game of translated Simon says but I see more growth, depth, and love in being intentional with them.
Let’s think of what happened in Mark 2 when 4 friends wanted their other friend, who was paralyzed to be healed. They heard Jesus was powerful and “powers” so they decided they would stop at nothing to make this happen. They dug a whole into roof and lowered him down, mission impossible style, to Jesus just to have the opportunity for him to get better.
They were intentional, they were relational, and they showed outrageous love.
That’s what I want. To do this no matter the cost. If I have to sit squatting for 20 mins trying to get some kids to first bump me then I will.
Having the gospel in my mouth ready to say it but knowing they don’t understand spoken word frustrates me. That’s my gift being able to speak is my thing! But if I can’t do that I will try my darnedest to get the love for Jesus in my heart to others. I just want them to be able to smile and have joy. Not momentary happiness that comes from a hug and some bread.
But a lifelong memory that has the opportunity to effect their eternity.
Help this continue. I need $2,875 by April 30th to continue this mission. Join with me and let’s see how The Lord uses me, The Holy Spirit leads me, and how the Jesus Christ life, death, and resurrection convicts me daily. And relate these things to your life. How can you take the love from Jesus you know and make a tangible act of love today. Live that today.
