connecting the dots.

Its 11 pm Zambia time and we have completed the last day of work for this call. We were able to pretty much finish the tile in the kitchen and bathroom and that is saying a lot considering my hands typically lay on home row rather than on quick set.

 

Before we left, a word was given that said that the floodgates would open.  It was hard for me to fathom especially because I have seen some pretty amazing things in the three consecutive summers I have been here.  But it was true. Nothing could have prepared us for what God was going to do to us in the way of compassion for these children this year.  The last couple years I have been so focused on the construction efforts that I didn’t really get to build relationships with the very people who would benefit from the efforts on the property.  That all changed this year.  With the vbs and the field trip to the local zoo, we had ample opportunity to get to know one another.  I was able to specifically get to know the child who I sponsor monthly back home.  How many people can say that? His name is Joseph.  I already knew that – but now I know his history, how many siblings he has and how it isn’t easy being the orphan baby in the family in this culture.  And as I wrote him a letter the day before I would last see him on this trip, I was able to make it personal and real – not a template driven outreach note- but perfectly REAL.  What was even better than that was he read it and before I left him he was able to come to me and say:

 

                ‘you wrote this letter?’

 ‘Yes,’ I replied.

‘you will pray for me everyday (like I wrote in the letter)?’

‘Yes,’ I confirmed.

‘thank you. I will pray for you every night.’

 

Those words are more valuable than gold.  A 10 year old orphan who sleeps on the floor and does not eat at night because he is a burden to his grandmother is going to pray for me.  Do I deserve it – probably not.  But I would never rob him of that joy.

 

It is hard to leave him knowing his plight.  But my job is to continue the efforts of making sure the funding is there for the village and that we will be able to house these kids soon.  These kids- I know their names.   I know what they want to be when they grow up.  I want to see them achieve it.  I want to see Joseph grow up to be an amazing man. 

 

It had me thinking…the first trip we only had land. The next trip we had an empty building. This trip were able to fellowship and build relationships with the very inhabitants of the building on the land of a vision.  I praise God and his continues to connect the dots for me.

 

And now as I prepare for my last restless night in Zambia, I pray that God empowered us all to make a difference while we still can.  I don’t know if and -if so- when I will return to my friends in Lusaka, Zambia, but I do know that they are my friends, my brothers and sisters, my hope for fulfilling my purpose. Mtendere Chewa and Endani bwino – Peace and go well.

-m