Monday, June 3rd

This day was so, incredibly, emotionally draining. This day, we were not just serving "Africa" any more. This day, Africa had sweet little faces and names. This day, we were loving on Precious and Salima and Paul and Flowrence and Irene. This day, it all became personal.

I taught a VBS lesson about being co-heirs with Christ from Romans 8. I told them about how Christ came to take on the consequences of our bad choices. I told them that God loved them enough to send His son. I prayed that my words would fall on open hearts as I also told them that God not only sent His son to take away their sin, but to clothe them in His righteousness. Jesus is the King of Kings and He called each of us his brothers and sisters...you know what that makes us? Kings and Queens, co-heirs to the kingdom of heaven.

Looking into those deep brown eyes, just above the ripped-up, hand-me-down clothes on those distended, hungry bellies, saying, "You are a KING! You are a QUEEN!" "God loves you so much that in His eyes you are not only beautiful and serving a purpose here on earth, but the best is yet to come! When God sees you, He sees righteousness. He sees royalty." They were the most beautiful words that I could have ever spoken to these little ones. We made crowns with them and as I put each crown on the child's head, I would hold their face in my hands, look them in the eyes and say their names with tears in my eyes.

"You are beautiful Queen Esther!"

Children in Africa are raised thinking that their purpose in life is to work. The role of young boys is to fetch water, the role of young girls is to care for the babies and wash the utensils. Their entire existence is based on what they can do to help their family and themselves survive until the following day. Can you imagine if our children had no vision beyond the current day? Can you imagine a life where you and I didn't think beyond our needs for a single day? There is no hope in that. There is no life. There is no progress because there is no purpose. 

Purpose became a key word for us on this trip. Pastor Samuel and his wife, Sarah, (who grew up a child sponsored by Compassion International), are native Ugandans who have been called to raise up a generation of young people, especially men, who are living on purpose and with a purpose. Pastor Samuel talks of the need for us to all recognize the value of authority because within that, we find our purpose. We all must submit to God as our great authority, parents need to rise up and be the authority over their children, and fathers need to remain in their families to guide and direct their paths.
Now, I was raised by a strong, hand-working mom. She was single for many of her mothering years. It may possibly also be true that I like to rule the roost over here in the Mc House. I have always hated any talk of submission and/or male authority...it felt passive to me, weak.
As I heard Pastor Samuel speak though, I didn't cringe at all. He spoke of the hopelessness of so many in Africa. Women get pregnant, men leave, women are burdened. Mothers have no time, energy, motivation to love their children. They spend their days trying their best to survive, resenting the fact that they are burdened, and the men are gone. There was no order to life, no one taking the lead, no one holding anyone else accountable, no trustworthy authority. Even those who love Jesus A LOT, still follow some of the practices of witchcraft. They just can not trust fully that Jesus is who he says he is. They have never known loving and nurturing, so how could they truly understand a God who lavishes his children in love. Just like Thomas, and just like us...sometimes we just insist that we must see before we can believe.

Am I willing to step out in faith knowing full well that I could help to change a life simply by being an example of love? That was my prayer when we became foster parents, and it is my prayer now...God, may my actions today help a child go to bed more peacefully tonight knowing that they are loved more than they could ever imagine. Amen.