There are 5 hours a day where I turn into a celebrity. 5 hours where 1000 smiling little faces look up at me waiting on my next word. 5 hours where my hand is held tight without fail and my cheeks are covered in innocent kisses.
5 hours a day I go with 21 other girls on my squad to a refugee camp filled with families from the Somali/Ethiopian boarder. These are families that have been forced to flee their homes because of political unrest and violence. They now live in rows tin shacks the size of my first bedroom.
They wear the same clothes every day, covered in rips and dirt. But in the most beautiful range of colours and fabrics. God’s masterpiece.
These families are almost all Muslim and very few speak english. By the grace of God the government allowed us to enter this camp to be with the children for 5 hours a day. 5 hours a day where I’m not allowed to speak out the name of Jesus. 5 hours a day where I find the most authentic heart of Jesus I’ve ever come across in 1000 little faces.
When we first arrived we were taken around the camp to see what it was like. It felt more like a parade than anything. I expected quizical looks and dissapproving eyes because of my white skin and long blonde hair. But what I got was a glimpse of the life Jesus lived. Not one person could help but smile at us as the Holy Spirit shown it’s light everywhere we walked. I turned around to find 1000 little faces following the light eager to touch it. We lived out the bible story where the children clung to Jesus and the dissaproving adults pulled them away for fear that He didn’t want them. But we got to turn to them and say let them come to us.
For 5 hours a day we play in a large cow field where somehow I command the attention of 200 small faces all to myself. They swarm and eagerly wait to repeat every single word I say having no idea what it means. This is where being a camp counsellor comes in handy. I sing at the top of my lungs for hours. The silliest of songs leave my lips all while I pray they somehow hear Jesus through Aunt Ouvas Chickens.
This month of ministry it is necessity that I rely on my God for strength. Only through Him do I make it through 5 hours a day of screaming songs and duck duck goose. 5 hours a day where all I can give them is a simple smile when all my heart wants is to whisper Jesus love to them. 5 hours a day where I watch disease run rampid hoping I can lift the fear from their eyes.
There’s only 5 hours a day that I get to touch as many lives as possible. Where I need all the energy I’ll ever have. Where all I can do is be the living breathing joy and love of Jesus. Where I have to walk with the light of Jesus and hope it does some good. In the grand scheme of things there’s very little I can do for 1000 little faces. But my God is so much greater than the number of hands that I hold. He’s got much bigger plans than my daily 5 hours of fame.
