I recently returned from Kenya (ok, like 13 hours ago. Dang jet lag. 🙂 ). I also had the privilege of visting Uganda last year. It’d be easy to walk away with a sadness and heartache at the economic and material deprivation most people live with every day. And for awhile, that is what my heart felt. But over the three trips I’ve made to Africa, the Lord has reminded me, even shaken me to the core, with His reality. For those that know Him, they don’t see themselves as lacking in anything. Their joy is made complete in Christ, and though their lives are hard, they smile knowing His Kingdom come, His will be done. I just met a woman in Kenya who makes less than $50…a month. And what did she keep saying to me? That the Lord is so good and she’s been given much so she can help others who are less fortunate. Wow. I was left speechless, and the tears that welled up inside me were twofold: because of her generosity even amidst her struggles and the ugly truth that I take so much for granted. I’ve also been shown that yes, sometimes the big picture is overwhelming. There are millions upon millions of people who barely have enough to survive. 27 million people are victims of human trafficking. Children are dying every day because of disease. It can be enough to want to crawl inside a shell and go back to the time when I was unaware of such pain. But that is not what the Lord has called any of us to do. He doesn’t see statistics. He sees His children, His loved ones, His creation. And every single life is precious. Which is exactly why He has called us to go and serve. Whether it’s around the corner or across the world, every person needs to see the Love of Christ and have the chance to hear about Him. I pray the shocking numbers of reality don’t cause me to crawl inside a shell but instead spur me on that much more to go. One of my favorite lines in the song “Hosanna” by Brooke Fraser is “break my heart for what breaks Yours, everything I am for Your Kingdom’s cause.” May we all see with the eyes of Jesus, and when we serve others, may they see Him, not us…
