Monday, May 4, 2009
Unspoken Bonds
This weekend was certainly a lesson in humility. By Friday morning I was absolutely convinced that I was fully adjusted to Salone life...it seemed like I could handle the heat, I knew more of the songs we sang at school (thanks to Calvary...we must sing at least 5 of the songs they sing here all the time), I'd seen all my old friends again, and I was even starting to grasp a little Krio. Of course, when you think you've got it all covered, that's when God reminds you that on your own...you really don't. By Friday late afternoon, I was feeling really sick...and by Friday night, my stomach felt like someone was squeezing the life out of it. I have a very unnatural fear of actually getting the flu...I would rather have a cold for 2 months than have to deal with throwing up. But, once again, God keeps us humble...so you can imagine which of the two options I was rewarded. Not only was I sick nearly all night, it happened to be the night the whole town was over watching a movie in our house...ah what a sense of humour God has! However, I became so incredibly thankful for my Salone mama & sisi...they were in my room within seconds of my coughing, rubbing my back and murmuring 'sorry' in Koronco until I finally stopped coughing. What a reminder of how universal love is...you don't need to understand the language perfectly to know how much someone cares about you. Saturday I still felt pretty awful, but didn't get sick...yet somehow managed to sleep all day (I do mean all day...from9 - 9, short breaks of ten minutes, and then slept till the next morning). Sunday left me feeling much better...and I was even well enough to go to church, which made me incredibly happy and homesick at the same time. Church here is so much like Calvary...we sang a lot of the same songs, and the message reminded me so much of home. Amazing how things can be so similar on different corners of the world. Today we have a meeting with the CES staff...so hopefully I will have my job tasks outlined more and we will discuss plans for the summer. This weekend was a good reminder that this summer won't be easy...it will certainly be hard work at times, and undoubtedly painful too...but with God's grace, I will get through it. After all, suffering produces perserverence, and perserverence brings faith...and what better place to learn about faith and hope than in a little village in West Africa, one that has been through so much heartache & loss? If they can still have faith, I think it's not something that's out of reach for anyone.
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2 comments:
My dearest Krissi,
I am glad that you are feeling better! You probably needed to catch up on that amount of sleep regardless of whether you were sick or not.
What a great attitude to have about being sick! Keep having these beautiful thoughts.
I am glad that you are surrounded by love there!
I hope you continue to regain your health and stay healthy.
Lots of love!
Hi Krissi!
Penny sent me a message with the link to your blogs. I was so blessed reading them! I especially liked your last line from your post today, where you commented on the faith level of these precious African people, who have nothing in a worldly sense, yet are rich in Christ and rich in faith! We have a lot to learn from them and I am continually inspired by how passionate and genuine they are.
CLA, where I go to Church, is big on reaching out to Africa to the Villages of Hope in Kitwe Uganda, where they take in orphans who have lost one or more family members to AIDS, and place these children in homes of 8 children to one house mother. A ladies group I am a part of recently raised over $5,000 to help build a Hope for Babies centre, specifically reaching out to mothers and the babies born to them. It's a new clinic being built this month! Brian did a jumping clinic at M&M and Christina and I sold chili and baking and raised a total of over $800! And then a business man in the church was so inspired that he matched the donations! The Bible says if we sow sparingly, we reap sparingly, but if we sow generously we will reap generously! And that's not just financially, but spiritually as well. It is a privilege to give, and I think the rewards we receive far outweigh the benefits of the recipients!
Keep up the good work, Krissi, and know that the Lord will reward you for your ministry! I'll leave you with a few verses that are on my heart today:
I Tim.4:12: "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity."
And also one more...
Matthew 11:12: "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful people take hold of it."
I would just encourage you to give it all you've got, go for it, press into God, take risks, get out of your comfort zone, make an impact, change lives, change the WORLD! You can do it, God is with you, Krissi, and has put His love in your heart!
Have an awesome day! I will be praying for you!
Hilde Stevenson
friend of Penny's from M&M
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