As I was thinking about what some of these people have lived through, I was so happy to have helped bring joy to that woman's day. She was quite old and stooped as she walked, and wasn't with any of the other women who all had young children. My guess is she's past the age that she has much to offer around the house and probably even with the children. To have lived through what I can only imagine and now be in a strange land without the ability to communicate outside of her own people, I think we offered her a chance to live that day. I saw a glimpse into what Jesus meant when he talked about the abundant life he came to offer. I saw grace and beauty extended from our team to this woman. I saw joy and vibrance a not a single worry about what others thought or the language barrier. And when she smiled seeing herself in the mirror, and when she jumped right into the front of our group shot (which is on a friend's camera, sorry!) I saw that she recognized her own worth as a person. That shows exactly how Jesus sees her-as a beautiful woman who has much worth despite what she can offer. After all, what can any of us offer to the Creator and Savior of the universe? What a day to truly praise the Lord-He indeed created it and his love was shared. I'm praying others there felt the love and grace of Jesus in their hearts and will come to know his saving love!
Last week our family had the joy of serving children and some moms and even grandmas at a refugee community in the greater metro. We went with other teams from our office. We were part of a team that held backyard Bible clubs, or block parties as we called them there. The community is a town that is one of a handful around the country where immigrants coming to our country from war-torn regions are relocated. We sang songs, told them about Jesus multiplying the fish and loaves to take care of the crowd and how he wants to take care of them too, had fun with puppets, blew bubbles, painted faces and generally had a great time loving those kids! We met children from a host of countries-some having been here a very short time and others for years. We met a man who has his master's degree in sociology and had went back into a war-torn region to work, only to be deported. He has resettled in this community and was so eager to be able to serve again. We watched children help their siblings. One little boy, not much bigger than my little girl, was wearing his baby brother in a sling and carrying him all along to the activities! A few of the older girls were shy to participate but jumped right in to help paint faces when they saw we had another brush. The children LOVED having their faces painted. Actually they loved having their faces, hands, arms and any free skin painted! And when the children were having just too good of a time, one very old grandmother decided it was her turn. She was very hesitant at first but patting her hand and her cheek and looking expectantly at me. She didn't speak a word of English. I motioned to some of the other girls nearby to see if she wanted a butterfly or flower-the most popular choices for the girls. The lady touched her nose and out-like the cat noses/whiskers we were doing. I asked the older girl who was helping paint faces if she wanted a cat face. She translated and said a butterfly on her hand. So I did it. Then she pointed to her face again. I did a flower. Then she pointed at her nose again. I made motions toward my nose and like I had whiskers. She grunted and her eyes lit up. So I pointed at the little girl hanging out next to me and asked this? She smiled. So I did it. She kept coming back and pointing at any open space on her face. The delight was radiating from her! At one point Ty showed her on his phone what it looked like. A little while later she came back with a mirror and when I finished a tree on her forehead (her request!) she pulled it out of her jacket and beamed when she saw her face. Here you can see some of the many things on her hand and face!
As I was thinking about what some of these people have lived through, I was so happy to have helped bring joy to that woman's day. She was quite old and stooped as she walked, and wasn't with any of the other women who all had young children. My guess is she's past the age that she has much to offer around the house and probably even with the children. To have lived through what I can only imagine and now be in a strange land without the ability to communicate outside of her own people, I think we offered her a chance to live that day. I saw a glimpse into what Jesus meant when he talked about the abundant life he came to offer. I saw grace and beauty extended from our team to this woman. I saw joy and vibrance a not a single worry about what others thought or the language barrier. And when she smiled seeing herself in the mirror, and when she jumped right into the front of our group shot (which is on a friend's camera, sorry!) I saw that she recognized her own worth as a person. That shows exactly how Jesus sees her-as a beautiful woman who has much worth despite what she can offer. After all, what can any of us offer to the Creator and Savior of the universe? What a day to truly praise the Lord-He indeed created it and his love was shared. I'm praying others there felt the love and grace of Jesus in their hearts and will come to know his saving love!
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Sunday was "friend day" at our church. We had a big BBQ lunch and games and activities for kids outside. The point is to use it as a tool to invite friends to church. (I have a different post to come about my experience inviting friends) Our family had different roles helping today-Ty leading worship, E and I helped set up a little and run crafts for a shift. J played hard with a friend. We didn't get to sit down to eat until later in the afternoon. When we did, we saw a family we hadn't met yet and asked of we could join their table. I noticed they had a visitor gift bag so we began to talk about what we all did, where we lived, where we were from. The usual get to know you small talk. The husband asked what we do and we shared we are missionaries. He said "I have a special place in my heart for missionaries." For the next 10 minutes he proceeded to tell his story. And how God had intersected his story. He had grown up in a peaceful region of Africa in a family whose blood lines were religious leaders to be worshipped. However, his grandfather had met a missionary and come to know the power of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus. This man had the benefit of growing up in a family who instead of beig worshipped, now knew and worshipped the living God. The man we sat with told of the boarding schools he attended which were run by missionaries. He knew and loved many of the teachers and spoke fondly of them. He explained how as he grew up his peaceful region has become very unsettled due to clashes between Muslims, Christians, and tribal groups have moved into that area. Because of this, their family has left Africa and are in Europe. He is the only one who has come to The States. He told how several years ago his grandfather died. He shared how funerals often incite much unrest as religious tensions can be high from varied beliefs. His grandfather had insisted on a Christian funeral in a church as this was who he had become. However, this was a huge thing to the tribe as everyone was there and someone from his blood line and standing would never have a church funeral. This man was obviously moved sharing this story of the many who saw/heard of Jesus through his grandfather. All because of a missionary who years ago didn't buy into the dream of bigger and better and personal comfort and success. All because of a man who left home and familiarity and followed Jesus. All because people sent him with prayers and finances.
I left church today humbled once again. Humbled by our amazingly loving and detailed God who has a plan. If we follow him, wow-what he can do with our obedience to further his kingdom! We pray as we follow what God has called us into that he will grow his kingdom through our obedience beyond even what we will ever see. Thank you for helping pray and support us in this. May God be glorified and lives be saved! As we walk forward in this walk on earth, those who are saved are being made more like Jesus. Thankfully, God continues to work on us! Sadly, he has a long way to go. I had a great skype call this morning with my friend Jill in Italy. Whenever we talk I'm blessed. I'm encouraged. I'm challenged. And I get to process like crazy (and listen to her process too!) Today we were talking about unity and how that is one of the first things the enemy goes after in believers. As I've thought more about this today I see evidence all around of this attack. There is disunity in our marriage, our family, our church, our team, our country. The list goes on and on. It's so easy for the enemy of our souls to mess up the witness to God's glory when he divides us. If we aren't walking in the power of unity that the Holy Spirit brings about, then we unravel quickly. And for me, when I see an attack I want to rush into battle. I want to sling truth all over the place and force back the one the Bible says prowls about like a lion looking for who he can devour. In that process, I often am so judgmental of the person who is involved, who is under attack. I form opinions as to how he/she should respond and fight. I see how the problem could be fixed so clearly. And I build a wall. I have a separation from that person because all of a sudden I have elevated my own standing above theirs. I know what's going on, I'm sure I could fight off the enemy I think. I judge.
And then, just like that, I'm part of the same attack. I'm part of the very thing I was just sure I knew how to avoid, how to fix. I've caused more disunity, not reconciled anything. And my heart groans. I want to do what is right. I want to help my brothers and sisters. I want to battle our enemy and bring God's grace to dying and hopeless souls. But first, I must make things right with my own soul. I must bow before our Heavenly Father and confess that I am a sinner. Again. I ask for forgiveness and revel in thankfulness at his mercy and grace and forgiveness anew. And when I walk free and clear in that forgiveness, then I can start to reconcile with my brothers and sisters whom I've judged. I can walk out the grace I've been extended. And I can pray mightily and fight against our enemy. I will not let chaos and confusion reign in my relationships. I will love and extend grace and forgiveness and humbly ask for it myself when I get too full of my own self. And then tomorrow, I'll start all over again. |
AuthorsCarolyn & (sometimes) Ty Archives
March 2016
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