I cannot believe that we have been in Africa for well over a week now! The team is adjusting well to the simplicity of African life. It is a month of fewer distractions as we serve Pastor Stephen, his wife, Jane, and the 14 orphans that they have taken into their home in the mountains of Kenya.
Life is simple here. It’s a matter of survival, no extra fluff. And everything takes just a bit longer than the “American way”. For instance, Christin and I decided to make dinner on Sunday. This meant that on Saturday, we would walk 4 ½ miles, catch an hour van ride (approximately 22 people in a van that we Americans would only say seat 7) on very bumpy roads to the nearest market. It’s a whole day event… not for the faint of heart! The next day we began cooking our simple meals of tacos over the fire – mashing every bean in an effort to recreate “refried beans”. I even got really adventurous and made homemade cinnamon rolls over the open fire!
The mountains and land here remind me of Montana and Colorado. It’s a piece of home living in the mountains, waking up to the cool mornings and going for runs alongside the streams of water. The African stars are incomprehensible and the sunsets are a masterpiece from the Father. It’s a month of retreat and much needed solitude after the hustle and bustle of cities such as Penang, Manila and Managua.
7 ½ months down. 3 ½ months to go.
And I’m tired.
It is hard to love month after month. To love with my whole heart only to say goodbye knowing I will probably never see these people again. It’s hard to give my whole heart, especially when beautiful people like Jane, are already asking me if I will be back to visit them, when I know, I may never come back.
This trip is abnormal and stretches every human capacity that is possible. And everything in me wants to shut the emotions off.
I actually think that is what I began doing. I began numbing the heart that God has created first and foremost to be loved, and secondly, to dish out love to others. But, through the last week in Africa, I’ve allowed myself to listen to the Lord’s voice. He’s tenderizing my heart.
He’s used my expectations of myself and others to allow me to realize it’s not about what we do, but it’s about love.
God used the sweet orphan who scared me as I sat alone watching the sunset behind the rain clouds – to realize, yes, it IS about love.
1 John 5:19-20
Here’s the truth : I (we) are living in a broken and depraved world. The devil is the prince of this world. Brokenness permeates every part of our beings. YET, we are of God. Yes, this world lies in the power of the evil one, but, we know the Son of the living God, who has come to this earth. Jesus has given us understanding. He has given us understanding so that we would know Him who is true.
Jesus Christ. It is He who is the true Son of God. And He is eternal life.
If we know this living God. If, He is who He says He is. Than He will give me the strength to love in this broken world. Whether, I have the strength to love or not – Jesus will love through me if I am willing.
Jesus says that in my weakness, it is He who is my strength (2 Cor. 12:9).
I want to love these orphans more than they have ever been loved.
I want to encourage Pastor Stephen and Jane more than they’ve ever been encouraged.
And this is only possible through the Spirit of the living God who lives, breathes and permeates everything within me.
