The house finally simmers down in silence. I take in my surroundings and the busyness that was today. I’m living in Kenya, a country that was never on my radar until God swooped in and redirected 10 of us to a new country full of all of His wonders.
The house is quiet. I lay on a mattress on the floor where a dining room table is meant to be. My new friends have rearranged their home to house a group of strangers. I marvel at how cool God is to change strangers into friends so quickly. There is a sheet that hangs up by nail and rope to give us privacy and I find myself grateful for the little things. Like people willing to put holes in their home just so some missionaries could have some space to themselves. I find myself grateful for a toilet nearby, yet again, and for a team who is understanding when I am sick. I’m thankful for the teammates that sit and pray for me as I cry that I’m missing ministry yet again. They run their fingers through my short brown hair and bring me tea, just like my mom would do if she were here. I smile remembering the little blonde 3 year old beauty of the house who counteracted my insecurities of my hair with “You look just like Rapunzel.” It’s like she knew exactly what would make me smile. I’m thankful for no WiFi and no desire to listen to music or watch a movie, but just to sit with Abba.
The house echoes ripples of memories of the day. I’m finding Him in the little moments. Like hiding in the bathroom when 20 people show up unexpectedly for dinner and asking the Lord to not give me anxiety but peace and strength to love the people in front of me. And He does. And we have tacos. He knows how to love me so well. I thank him for a home of people who speak English and for 3 dogs who don’t cower in fear but run to love you and accept your belly scratches and abundance of adoration.
The house starts to sing in the silence. If I listen closely, it’s to the tune of my heart for my Heavenly Father. My family is asleep so I keep my singing internal. I sway with Abba in my field and blue butterflies dance around us. I’m so in love with Him. I want to be like Mary of Bethany who wastes her entire life savings at Jesus’ feet.
I revel in this silence a little while longer before sleep beckons me to join her. I can hear Him more clearly in the quiet and in the stillness. But He is teaching me to find Him in the chaos. In only a matter of hours the house will team with sounds of baby cries, toddler screams, early risers, coffee brewers, breakfast makers and everything in between. The house will come alive and sing a different song, but still to the same tune of my heart. He is everywhere.
The house sits in silence right now. And I put my hands in the air in the dark on my dining room floor mattress bedroom and I worship.
He has changed me this year. What a good Father He is.
Next week He is taking me into prisons, slums, remote tribes and broken homes to be His hands and feet. The hardest parts of the world and He is sending ME?
What a good Father He is.
The house is quiet, but my heart, my very soul is not. He has taught me a new song to sing.
Do you hear it?
