with Hands extended...

Impacted by the joy that resonates with two individuals becoming man and wife, we were reminded of the immediacy of why God has called us to the ‘nations’, here in this context and now at this time. We experienced our first Kenyan wedding, which was a joyous day to celebrate in. At the reception, we were standing at the end of the food line, soaking up the Kenyan dancing, as we saw about 50 kids in the distance waiting so patiently for their invitation to join in the festivities.

 You see, we believe that God works in mysterious ways and that He ‘wills and acts according to His good purpose.’ The week leading up to this event, we were almost bombarded by the requests extended by poverty’s hand: people knocking on our doors for needs, people stopping us pleading for our assistance, people digging thru trash to savor any type of ‘nutrition’, and the like. In what ways can we truly ‘help’ those who are extending their hand in great need? There is such a battle in giving here, because almost all are in some type of need. In this context, money is seen as a polar opposite function for life: If someone asks you for money and you have it, then their immediate needs ‘trumps’ your need. In our mindset, we are taught to ‘budget’, to save, to balance out our needs versus wants. In this mindset, there is a socialistic view of helping others who are less fortunate, mainly believing that one day you may be the one on the other end with hands extended in need. Maintains good Karma, if you will. When you give ‘effortlessly’ and then see the money handed off to another in a need that may not be a priority in your thoughts, its difficult to continue in that extension to others. To provide food on one day, and then witness a lack thereof on another, its difficult to embrace. To extend investment in others and then to feel personal attacks against their schemes, is difficult to understand. To not take it personally and to not harbor resentment on a culture’s paralyzing hand, is difficult to release. Yet, God collides with the drawing allure of our flesh, as he gently restores us saying “do not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people…” (Gal.6:9-10). Our greatest prayer has been that He would daily restore the attack of weariness within us and that He may surface His wisdom and His discretion in our heart—that we may not see a hand extended in need as a burden for what is to come, but believe in God’s promises to sustain the righteous—that we may not embrace a belief in personal attacks, but take His ‘yoke’ that is light and allow God to bring judgment upon others---that we may not focus on the ways our help can cripple others, but believe in God’s Spirit’s leading within us to extend at His appropriate time.

 As we were praying over the difficulties that the week offered, God restored to us focus and remembrance of our time through the interaction of a specific family of four that we are sure that you will remember. Remember the 50 kids waiting…Well, their invitation was finally extended, and their feet scurried across the plain to line up for their ‘meal of the day’ Remember the blog ‘tension of the grasping hand’ with the family of 4 from Gichagi village. Well, as we get our plate of food, with no spoons left to offer, we sit down to eat along the ground (because all chairs had been taken) and lo and behold our precious friends come and sit beside us: John, Bryan, Sarah, and Francis. Each with a plate piled high of rice, potatoes, and beef stew and a welcoming embrace as they recognized who we were. If we had received a spoon, a chair, then we would have been sitting inside of the wedding tent, away from the kids, and not have been blessed by their presence.  Sitting there with them, still looking like they had been left in the mud for days, shone forth once again our purpose here. There are going to be hands extended to us most likely the entire time that we are here, and yes, its difficult to have to say no to some of their needs, but we were reminded that God has us here for a very specific reason. If we gave to all hands extended, then there would be no room left to finish what we have started here. We were the only ones sitting with the kids, behind the wedding ceremony, and it was a special moment that will be etched forever in our hearts, as we were looking at the field where the Vapor Sports Center will be placed.

 These 50 kids, and this particular family will have a place to call a second home, or for some a first home—a Vapor Sports Center will be built so that they can continuously be fed by the only food that will sustain them, by the only One who can carry them through life’s strives—the Word of God will be poured into them through the leaders that we disciple here. We have been here for two months now, and God’s presence working thru us is evident, as He used the joy of a wedding and His precious little ones to restore to us once again the joy of His salvation. We can’t help everyone, and we can’t solve the problems of Africa, but we can stay focused on why God is using us here for His purpose, and from His leading pour out to those who encompass our steps.