"Precious Jesus, I am ready to surrender everything. Take my hand and lead me closer. Lord, I long to meet you there."
Everyone who experiences life in the village meets the Lord. Late late Saturday night, Uncle Israel pulled Janna and I aside to tell us to pack- we were going to the village for five days with the Kansas team. I cannot describe my elation. My bags were packed in fifteen minutes.
This stay differed greatly from others. First off, long time no shower. Secondly this group breaks themselves into four smaller specialty groups: Leadership training, women's ministry, children's ministry, and manual labor. This week I waffled between children's ministry and labor. Lastly there was some tension within the campsite that created a challenge. Fortunately nothing says team building like throwing bricks at each other, trusting the next person will actually have the strength to catch them. I also got the chance to whack bush with my slasher for a few more hours, carry thatch over a mile on my head, haul water many many times, and tread mud in our hand dug pit. Never have my muscles ached more. Oh! We overturned a black adder in our work. Douglas crushed it and it died. For all of our hard work, the villagers honored us with two live goats. These we slaughtered (I just watched- they were fuzzy) and barbecued. Delicious.
Children's ministry this week differed as well. As Janna and I knew the program and songs, we had the opportunity to lead. I heard tiny voices chanting after mine and giggles over my antics. So much fun to have them respond this way. One particular little girl, Florez (white tank top in earlier blog), touched my heart again. At first I couldn't find her. Lord, if you want me to sponsor her, lead her to me! One day, by a house in the distance I spotted a girl. I recognized her immediately through the Lord. I couldn't see her face or hear her voice, but I knew that that was my girl. She stopped working, stared at me, then ran to the road and knelt at my feet. Now the team is working on the forms so that I can sponsor her.
Yes, the med kits came out again. This particular girl had gotten her leg stuck in the spokes of a bicycle- a chewed up gash and a sprained ankle. Otherwise it was jiggers as usual plus a few infected fingers.
One day we walked to town early to pray over Janna's girl Provia. As she was visiting her mother in a different village, we simply hung with the kids. We felt disappointment at not helping Provia, but God gave us a blessing in these extra moments.
While resting over the early afternoon hours (how intense the sun!) I broke out the face paint for some little tribal warriors.
True African right?
I'm going to miss this village. These are my people, my village, my Africa. They are my family in Christ. God is personal. They are mine; I am theirs; and we are His.
Thank you God for taking us and saving us.
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