Would you let a blind man carry your luggage?
Keep in mind that it weighs 45 pounds and is twice the size of him.
And your not carrying anything. Nothing.
Would your pride allow this to happen?
This was the humbling situation I was greeted with as I was making my way to the house of Mama Rita for the first time.
Mama Rita’s partner in ministry (and now our good friend) Peter insisted on carrying my bag to the house. And so I had to let him. (I really wish I had a picture of this. Trust me – my pack was huge on him)
And then as we were walking to the house, a couple of the beautiful kids we were staying with grabbed my other bag and pillow.
Leaving me holding nothing.
Keep in mind during all this, the five girls on my team were all still carrying their bags. And wouldn’t let me take one of their bags for them.
Do you have any idea how hard all this was on my pride?
This was just the beginning of this lesson……
I have often thought about pride as something that keeps me from serving but rarely as something that keeps me from being served.
But my time at Mama Rita’s showed how true this is.
My pride doesn’t want people to serve me.
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As a team, we were faced with this constantly at Mama Rita’s
Although they rarely get showers, morning and night they would heat water over a fire so that we could take a hot shower.
At meals we were given meat with our rice while the orphans always ate beans with their rice. Hot water would be poured over our hands before meals. And we were always given chairs to sit on, while they sat outside on the ground.
They would even pay for our transportation around town.
And yes we tried to tell them that we didn’t need 2 showers a day. That we were fine with eating beans. That we have money for transportation.
But then we realized something…….
This was their way of loving us.
To fight against their service, would be to strip them of their way of loving us.
It would look like humility, to tell them not to heat up water, that we only wanted beans and to sit on the ground during meals.
But in reality it would be pride masked as humility.
It takes a lot of humility to:
*Let a blind person carry your pack.
*Let people that have very little, give you the best of what they have.
*Let someone buy you something.
*Let someone wash your feet. (I think anyone that has experienced this one, knows its more humbling getting your feet washed then washing someone else’s)
Humble Yourself.
And allow people to serve you.
My friend Peter and I.
This will be the last blog I do on Mama Rita and the gang in Mozambique. Currently a video is being made by another member of the squad about the story of Mama Rita, Peter and their orphans.
At that time, there will be a chance to help support them directly. Although at any time financial donations to their ministry and building of their two orphanages can be made any time at Care Africa’s website (Information and Banking Details are at the bottom of the page) Really anything you can give will be such a blessing to the beautiful children there!
****** Quick Support Update******
I am currently at 12,400 dollars. So I want to thank all of you that have supported this year. We have made a lot of progress support wise since January.
So thank you!
But I still need 1,400 more dollars( to reach the total of 13,800) to make sure I can stay the whole year.
Please consider how you can help me reach my goal. It would huge burden off my shoulders!
Just click on the “Support Me” tab on the left hand side for ways to give either electronically or conventionally.
God Bless!
