The Greatest of these is Love

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always .… And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13:1-7,13

God has been laying this verse on my heart a lot this week. It keeps popping up in one way or another, in a book I'm reading, in my bible study, in church, everywhere and anywhere. I think maybe he is trying to tell me something. ;)

One of the things that Angel and I really want to work on is showing this village the love of Jesus. As I have mentioned before they are missing the Jesus factor here, and how important is that piece!  One of our Boys, Elia, has been very interested and wanting to hear all about Him. We were talking with him one day this week, and just telling him how much Jesus loves him, how important he is to Him. He was eating it all up, like it was the first time he had ever heard this before. We are motivated now more than ever to really reach out to this place, to really teach them about this Jesus that loves them, that knows exactly where they are, and that He wants them to turn to him. 

We have heard some really sad stories this week that just make our stomachs turn. I have always known that adultery is all over this village; mostly in the men and that they will have several “wives” and several children all over the place. My heart just breaks at this, but I have heard worse news now.  I have heard a story about a man who was so mad at his wife, he cut her finger off. There is also a pastor here who is in charge of five churches, has seven children, and cheats on his wife. I have heard that there are many women in the village whose husbands beat them, even when they are pregnant. The option to leave a husband doesn’t exist because a woman can’t make it on her own, especially if she has children. Not to mention that women don’t really have the same rights as men, and in this culture are taught that a man is the head of the household, no exceptions; which is biblical, but they are missing the part about how a husband is supposed to love his wife. (Another example of missing the Jesus factor.) It breaks my heart to know that this is happening all over the village, and I have this feeling of complete helplessness, but God is so big. He is so much bigger than this situation, and he placed two women from America here who have a willing and open heart, and are ready to make changes. Our newest idea to make a difference here is to start a bible study. We aren’t sure how many people will show up, or where it will be held, or how it will look, but we know that God has laid this on our hearts and the need is so great here. 

This week we were harvesting potatoes. Kay has told me on many occasions, that I should become a potato farmer. Not sure that is my life’s goal or anything, but I guess it’s a pretty awesome skill to have. During one of our times out there, two of the boys were working too close together and one cut the other ones fingers with his hoe. Luckily I started bringing a first aid kit down, and so I was able to get him fixed up real quick! Then a few days later one of our girls had her fingers in the door and one of the other kids closed it on them. I was in the kitchen when I heard an earth shattering scream. I ran to find the source and saw Priska’s fingers. She was crying and screaming and shaking her injured hand, which was getting blood all over. I grabbed her really quick and put a towel on her hand. Angel went to grab supplies for me and I stayed with Priska, trying to calm her down. When I finally got gloves on and could get a look at her fingers, I discovered that the door had scrapped away her skin on two of her fingers. On one finger I think it went to the bone. After bandaging her up, and holding her on my lap for a while, a smiling Priska returned. The kids have now realized that a kiss from Court-ta-ney takes all the pain away. I am constantly kissing hurts and pains away and I couldn’t ask for a better job! On a cute note, Priska only has one good hand and that is the one she hurt, when I told her to go brush her teeth she said she couldn’t. I had her bring me her toothbrush with paste and I brushed her teeth for her. She giggled and laughed and slobbered the whole time, which made it that much more exciting! 

One of our staff members, who was sleeping with the girls, is very sick. She has been in and out of the hospital the last few weeks and has made the decision to go home. (please send prayers her way) Now I am sleeping in the girls’ room. The first night I discovered that their door makes this AWFUL squeaking noise when it opens, which meant every time the girls got up to use the bathroom, I would wake up. So the next day, we fixed that problem. The next night I was awoken to one sweet little girl talking in her sleep for quite some time. That one I can’t complain about because it is adorable! The third night the girls had a bad case of gas. There were toots going all night, I am just glad it didn’t stink! So basically the point of this story is that I am not getting much sleep, but I love them so much and they are worth all the sleepless nights I might have. 

I don’t know If I mentioned in my blog the taco-tako confusion when my parents were here. But basically in Kiswahili tako means buttocks. So this week for special I decided to make tacos. One morning the boys came in and asked, “Court-ta-ney, we eating tacos for special?” After I told them yes all five of them giggled and giggled. It was very exciting to them, the idea of eating tacos, but they were eager to try them. So I made homemade tortilla shells, homemade salsa, beans from our garden, and fresh minced meat. I would say that it was a success, all forty five of them!  First I cooked everything separate, and then I combined the shell, beans, and meat, with cheese on top and baked it in the oven. I put the salsa on the side and served it with beans and everyone got a piece of watermelon. Now they are asking for tacos again!

I have some prayer requests:

1.       Pray for Sunrise, we are trying to start our own 501(C)(3) now.

a.       P.S. Does anyone have experience with starting one? Any lawyers out there that might have some advice for us? Please and Thank you! (My Email is C.Hohensee@yahoo.com)

2.       Pray for Bibi Kay.

3.       Pray for the children, and staff.

4.       Pray that God’s will, will be done at Sunrise.

5.       And also please pray for Angela (the lady who just left)!