Refreshed and Renewed

I woke up refreshed and renewed this morning. Last night during devotions I shared my Friday reflections. It was really hard but I felt it was something I needed to do to make the process complete. I feel like I have some new understandings deep in my soul.

Where Do I Go From Here, Lord?

I was scheduled for pastoral counseling this morning but I opted out. I didn’t know which would be harder to sit with another in their pool of tears or to sit by myself in my own pool of tears.

Why, Lord? Why does it have to be so hard for some people? Why does it have to be like this? Why does the boy in my group have to go three days without food? Why do children have to walk five hours to get dirty water? Why do we beat one another? Why are young girls raped more than once? Why do people go to bed cold and hungry? Why, Lord, why? How does my life contribute to these hardships?

Will sitting in my own pool of tears make any difference in the world? What is my purpose in this world? We are only here on this earth for such a short time. Lord, you know I try to be faithful, I try to make a difference. But the hurts of the world are so big and I am so insignificant. The hurt and pain and struggling is not only in Africa but also in my own back yard.

Where do I go from here, Lord? Do I have a new name? Have I been emptied so you can fill me, so that I can continue to serve you?

As I pray for the women from our home visits, I know their deep faith sustains them. Then I wish I had their faith. As I contemplate that and remember, I think maybe I do have their faith. I remember when my mom was dying of cancer, when Amber was suspected to have hydrocephalus, a brain tumor, diabetes, or possibly a degenerative neurological disease. I remember and my faith sustained me. Our circumstances are different but our stories are similar. A faith that sustains through the challenges of life.

Philippians 4:12 I have found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me – it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles. You Philippians well know and can be sure I will never forget.

My day has been full and I have been blessed. An angel offered to help me find James the 14-year-old boy in the hospital who broke his leg. He was in the surgical ward with several older men. He was so glad to see us, as he was terminally bored. We helped him get into a wheel chair and went out to the courtyard with him. After a short conversation I asked if he liked to play cards. He shared that he didn’t like cards but he did like computers. A light went off and I pulled out my iPhone. We spent a couple of hours together trying to get the car out of the traffic jam. I had been emptied but now I was full.

The Library

Before I left for Africa I had a wonderful conversation with Don and Cheryll about the many people I would meet and the things I would experience. They especially wanted me to greet Alice the librarian. They explained she was positive and that she had a wonderful spirit.

From the hammock:
Since I had brought 100 pounds of children's books, I was assigned to help organize the library.  As a few from the team discussed how we might organize the books, my inner self quietly screamed "but what about Alice, what does she think?". My image of Alice and the library was that she was tall slender and in her mid-20s. I had seen some pictures of the library and knew it was a bright beautiful room. I thought there was already a system and many books. In reality Alice was a beautiful young girl who had taken responsibility for a collection of books Don and Cheryll had brought on a previous mission trip and had naturally been appointed librarian, when the space for a library became available. While Alice was in school we organized, shelved and put cards in the books. The first time the library was open with the new books, many children stopped by after school and we had an impromptu storytime. I am confident that Alice has done whatever was needed to re-organize the library to meet the needs of her constituents. I indeed was blessed to meet Alice and the children who come to her library.

A letter from Alice


Dear Sylvia and Bill,
I hope you are very healthy as I am here. Greet everyone at your home. I was happy when the books were brought in my library I could not even image that is my library. In those books there was the one I loved most and it name is the snowman mystery when I read it I find good tenses in the book.


I would like you come here in Nazareth one day one time. We like our country because it the one that God gave us to live there.


If you have a child please don't forget to come with him/her I will be very excited. I love you.

Your lovely
Alice

Feelings

Today my assignment was to help with art therapy at the Alamano school, but as I went to bed James the young boy with a broken leg was on my mind. He was scheduled for surgery today. I didn't want him to go to surgery without a mom, so I asked Becky if I could switch to surgery. I showed up at surgery with a bit of fear and trepidation not knowing what I would experience. As I waited for scrubs I saw Dr. James and explained I was there to support the patient James. He told me James would not be having surgery until Monday. Somewhat relieved I headed for art therapy. My favorite part was talking with five young boys about feelings. I handed out a feeling card to everyone and then we took turns telling a story about when we had felt that way. 

Some of the stories I heard…

I was tired 

when I didn't eat for three days

when I walked to Limuru (we took a taxi and bus there yesterday)

when I walked five hours to fetch water

I was sad 

when the man hit me

the boy kicked me

the boy threw stones

I was happy 

when I got a quilt

new shoes

bread to eat

a soda

a sweater and shorts

I was surprised 

when I was number one in my class

A Post for the Tree of Lives Blog

Matthew 11:28-30

The Message (MSG)

 ^28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

I walked with Jesus today. We visited the town of Limuru and the villages of Karanjee, Miseri and Farmers. I wish you could've sat on my shoulder to hear the stories of the four women who are HIV-positive. 


They have been positive for many years but because of the support they get from the Tree of Lives ministry they are leading healthy lives. One woman shared how her diagnosis has brought her closer to God and her faith community. Another with medications and education was able to have an eight-month-old baby who is negative. 


The other two women in addition to HIV meds also receive food supplements to help them maintain their health. It was a powerful testimony to how sharing our resources can have a profound impact on the precious life of another human being. 

I am so grateful to Anne and the community worker we journeyed with today, for they are the hands and feet of Christ. I was humbled and honored to walk with them. Won't you consider giving a donation to Tree of Lives today, so you too can walk with Jesus in this corner of His world?

A Blog for Tree of Lives #1

The first blog entry for our trip was read tonight. It was written by Sheryl and was so eloquent. At the end jokingly we were told if we didn't write a blog entry we would go to hell. Hence my blog entry number one.


I'm writing this blog entry because I do not want to be the only one from this group going to hell, because I did not write. These people from Norfolk aren't half bad so I think I could stand them for eternity. I will say the blog entries I have read that others wrote totally intimidate me, but the threat of hell is a strong motivator. I pray the Holy Spirit would give me words to write an adequate entry if not at least it wasn't me.

Define Poverty

 Each night after dinner we would gather for devotions, sharing and prayer. Jim's question for us Wednesday night was to define "poverty".  Here is my definition.

Poverty of wealth- not having enough to sustain a healthy life

Poverty of faith-having too much to sustain a healthy faith