I reasoned that I would walk them into town to be professionally cleaned, because I don’t know how long I will have that option available to me. Plus, I don’t think that my hands are tough enough to sustain an hour of scrubbing. I have tender hands…
A group from our team gathered up our loads and trekked into Manzini, the nearest town. When we got to the laundromat, we lined up at the counter and began to unload our dirty clothes for all to see. As this was our first laundry experience together, I didn’t realize how awkward this would be. Our clothes were mighty stinky! However, this process was necessary. In order to get them clean, we had to pull out all of the stinky garments and place it on the counter for all to see & smell.
I realized that this would not be the only time this will happen throughout the year. Soon, this will probably become a common event and I will not give a second thought to it. This process of unloading the stink will continue past dirty laundry, too. In order to be in true community with my team, we will have to shed light on the rotten parts of us. This might be uncomfortable at first, but will ultimately bring healing to our souls through Jesus as we work though our issues together. If we do not open ourselves up early on, our darkest parts will eventually be transparent anyway simply because of the nature of the Race. Sleeping, eating, working, and playing with 6 other people 24 hours a day, 7 days a week tends to do that. 🙂 So why not get it all out at the beginning?
Opening ourselves to each other and God sheds light onto our dark problems. The dark becomes cast out and healing and forgiveness occur.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:5-9
(I took this picture during our Safari last week.)
