Laughter and Tears

I have heard it said many times that God must have a sense of humor because He sent His Son to turn the world right side up using a rugged group of fishermen, a tax collector, and society's rejects. None of us can understand much less explain why God has chosen us to be part of His Kingdom and part of His Kingdom work, but He has and one of the many joys of choosing obedience to Christ is the laughter we share with fellow believers. In addition to the laughter, He taught us to fellowship not only in the work, but around the table. I can't begin to explain the joy we've had as a team at each meal; the laughter, the sharing of what God is revealing to each through individual experiences, the miracles before our eyes, the camaraderie of shared inconveniences, and the wonder that our Creator God cares about us enough to die for us. In the make-up of any team, God chooses whom He will; men with as many callouses on their knees as on their hands, women with tender hearts, all with a desire to serve.

There's something special about the laughter of Godly men going about the work of God. It sparks fire in the heart and joy in the spirit and draws others to it. It speaks of a father's love and of a man's commitment to "do whatever needs doing" even when it's hard, frustrating, sweaty, dirty labor. There was a long list of "jobs" that needed doing at Aurora. BRA contributed over $7000 dollars towards materials costs (much of which went to extending the boys' dormitory...a welcomed addition), but there was rust coating and painting to be done, a laundry area to be cleared and framed in, electrical and plumbing to be fixed, and playground equipment to be assembled and cemented safely in place...and (sanding, sanding, sanding) the list went on and on. Everywhere I turned this week there was a harmony of activity, men going about their business... occasionally stopping to play with a group of kindergardeners learning to play with play dough or talking with a group of curious children on their way to an activity and always in the best of good humor and laughter.

Tears started early on this trip; not tears of sadness, but the tears of tender hearts. The walk through the squatters camp brought tears of frustration and incredulity...we walked an hour in and an hour back out...with less and less conversation and a heaviness of heart that defied explanation. It was easy to spot the fathers and mothers in the group as they compared these children to their own children/grandchildren back home.  Veronica warned us not to give in to pity, or sympathy (empathy, yes) because pity/sympathy are not what these kids need. They need love, protection, opportunity, and ownership of making right choices in their lives...they don't need hand-outs. We were asked not to give them gifts of any kind...Christianity is a choice for Christ from the heart of a believer, not an opportunity to get something for nothing. The wrongs of the past can't be paid for by the good intentions of the present, however good those intentions may be. What we can do is give these children an opportunity to choose Christ, to get an education, and to better their lives.

There were also tears of joy; when the children sang in the showers the songs they had learned the day before; when they would touch our faces and say "pretty" and when they would run up to us for a hug and then not turn loose; when the ones in our classes would "finally" grasp what we were teaching and smile and say "awesome," a word T taught them the first day...after that everything became "awesome." There were tears in all our eyes on the last day when Veronica called all the children to an assembly at the cross and they sang to us "The Glory of the Lord can be seen in You, Thank you for coming to us."
At the end of any trip, there is always the question, What did we actually get accomplished? There's so much left undone! Surely the week hasn't gone so quickly! God has to remind us (me at least) that the week wasn't about me, it wasn't about what did or did not "get done" but about obedience and faith...It's keeping my eyes on Jesus and what He accomplished...one day in Heaven, one (I hope all) of these children will come up to us and say..."I remember you, you came to Africa once."