The children have returned! It
took me just seeing their smiling faces to remember exactly why I love Africa,
why I love this village, why I love my life. It’s crazy to be this happy all of
the time. I mean like all of the time. So happy that when I fall asleep at
night I still have a HUGE smile plastered on my face. God is so good. I keep
thinking about all that God has done in my life up to this point. He gave me a
passion and a love for this place when I was six years old, and 17 years later
I am here. I am in an orphanage, loving on a bunch of kids, and I have never
been happier.
Last Sunday, (the day the kids
returned) there was a village soccer game. Only some of the kids had returned to
site, so Angel and I took them to the game, anxious to see our other kids. When
we arrived we chose a spot in the grass and sat down. In no time at all about
twenty or more village kids surrounded us. They are still a little weary of the
wazungu (white people) but they were content to sit near us and stare. Some of
the braver kids would come close and tell me their names, while some would hide
their faces and giggle. This little boy, probably three or four, came around.
He was eating candy so he was sticky from head to toe, and had the snottiest
noes I have seen in a while. My heart just melted. I saw this beautiful little
boy that I just wanted to have in my arms. I reached for him and he sat in my
lap perfectly content. Of course I was soon covered with little bits of candy,
and some boogers here and there, but none of that mattered.
After the one brave boy, all of the
kids, one after the other just came and sat on my lap, eager for a little extra
loving. There were some village women who came to try and save me, but I told
them I was fine. (Hamana Shida, not a problem.) This is what life is supposed
to be like. You are supposed to sit around with a bunch of snotty nosed, fungus
covered kids, and give them as much love as you can muster, and then some.
Things are changing at Sunrise. I
can feel it in every fiber of my being. God is planning something big and
nothing is going to stop him. Angel, the new volunteer, and I have discovered that
God is giving us similar visions for Sunrise. We are going to start doing service
projects with the kids on Saturdays. We feel like we need to reach out to this
community of hurting people, and show them how much Jesus loves them. Something
that is missing in this culture is Jesus. Sure they go to church, they know
their bibles, but they are missing the relationship. They are missing the “Jesus
factor”. We have asked for some names of some needy families, and we are going to
take them food, and all of the children to help out with things around the
house. The best way to teach someone is to be an example of it, and that is what
we are striving for. We also feel and see the need to help these children with
their school work. While most of our kids are excelling in their schooling, the
rest of the children in the village are not. We want to extend a helping hand
and start a homework help day. We can’t teach all of the subjects, but we can
help with math and English. And who knows, maybe some of the teachers will feel
the call to volunteer their time to help. The last project we want to work on
and the easiest one to accomplish is a monthly village movie night. Once a
month we would like to set up the screen and the projector to just bring the
villagers together.
God has also been laying it on my
heart to bring the staff together more too. We have started to do a bible study
every week. We had one the other day and it was such a beautiful thing. The Holy
Spirit was present and moving. I have also asked if the staff will be willing
to pray together every night. The more we look to God, the more resistance we
are going to face, and now more than ever we need to pray. So I am going to ask
the same of all of you. Please be praying for Sunrise. Pray that God’s will,
will be done. Pray that these projects Angel and I are starting will be used
for the glory of God. Pray that we will continue to look to him for the
answers, that we will stay strong and in community with one another, and that
everything we do will be for the glory of God.
Which brings me to the big
decision; I have decided to stay for another year. While it’s going to be hard
to be away for another year, I know what this life holds for me, and I know
that God has a plan for me, for Sunrise, and for this village. When I think about all that God has already done in my life, how can I say no to an opportunity to serve? I will be coming
home in November for a visit, but returning to Tanzania beginning of December. I
discussed this with Kay and she seems happy to have me stay on. At least it
will take some pressure off of her.
I just want to thank you all
again, for all the love and support sent my way. I know that God has blessed me
with all of you, and I just want to thank him for that too.
“When you give a luncheon or
dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich
neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But
when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at
the resurrection of the righteous.”
-Luke 14:12-14
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