80 loaves of bread
5 kg of corn meal
5 wors
5 kg of chicken
8 rolls of polony
100 bananas
22 kg of potatoes
Just a fraction of the food prepared at camp. Over the past week I've been at Kuyasa's Leadership Camp. It is a camp for all of Kuyasa's student leaders in all of the different programs and ministries. There were about 50 people total, including leaders and speakers. It was an intense few days full of seminars addressing everything from the Trinity to dating and forgiveness to spiritual warfare.
I went along to help out where needed which mostly involved cooking for these 50 people, of which about 25 included growing teenage boys. It was no small task!
I spend most of my time with the little ones and it was refreshing and fun to spend uninterrupted time with the teenagers. When I didn't think I could love this place any more, my heart is overflowing for these kids! I grew in my understanding of the struggles they face everyday, especially since many of them are first generation Christians and must deal with the ancestral worship and witch doctor practices of their parents and family. Many live with integrity in a culture were sex and drugs run rampant. I am incredibly impressed and proud of these kids in so many ways.
One of the biggest things that stuck out to me was their servant hearts. Despite being exhausted from all the thinking and discussions everyday and the blatant attacks from Satan, they were eager to help out in the kitchen. They joyously did the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. I'm by no means a neat and tidy cook but they worshiped and danced while cleaning up...even when cleaning out the pap pot (not a pleasant task!). There were never any complaints. They wouldn't let me wash one fork, let alone do any of the real dishes. All they wanted me to do was sing and dance with them and, so, that's what I did. My expectations for them were way to low. I was expecting whining and a feeling of forced labor but I should have known better.
My kids know how to give. They know what it means to be servants. They are modeling the very essence of Jesus. They love, pray, worship and serve from the very core of their hearts.
Philippians 2:5-8 is a passage that, for me, sums up who Jesus is and who we must strive to be
You attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!
Jesus is a humble obedient servant. He would have willingly cleaned the pap pot.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Mamas
Mama Aloni and Mama Fibi
love, compassion, sacrifice and amazingness
Their job descriptions include cooking for feeding scheme and maintaining Kuyasa's building...no small task when you have hundreds of kids running around everyday. Mama Fibi is also the house mother in the safe house for several teenage girls who have no other safe living option.
That's their "job" but they perform so many unquantifiable tasks. Mama Fibi is soft spoken but her tender hands are strong when she pulls me into her every morning for a hug or grabs my hand as our paths cross during the day. Mama Aloni can be clearly heard proclaiming, "SisNora! Yiza, Love, yiza!" from the other side of the building in the middle of feeding scheme. Obviously when she calls I come running with anticipation and she strongly pulls me in and says, "Sissy, today the children are very active. Here is my inspiration to you," and gives me a hug and a kiss. She is at a perfect height that I can bend over slightly, rest my head on her shoulder and let her support me for just a second. But in that second, I am rejuvenated, encouraged and loved beyond measure fro the rest of the day.
They give the best hugs and have the best smiles I have ever experienced. Hands down. No competition. They are fully devoted to Kuyasa, the kids and the staff. I think they actually make the place function. There's days when I run around like a crazy person organizing, planning and teaching but if I step foot in their kitchen or come into a room they are mopping I must stop for a second, take a breath, receive a sincere hug and soak up their love. They show me on a daily basis what it means to love. When I want to kill some kids, Mama Aloni's firm love and Mama Fibi's soft love come to the front of my mind and I, as well as the kids, survive another hectic day. And it's not just surviving another day, but thriving in another day. It's knowing what joy means and experiencing that completely in life.
They give and give and give and never ask for anything in return except the occasional broom to clean up after feeding scheme or a marker to keep track of the kids in the line. That's it. They are remarkable. They are the manifestations of love. These words do not do them justice. These two women have changed my life in ways I can't explain. Purely by their actions, I am changed. They love unconditionally. They give wholeheartedly. They serve fully.
1 John 4: 7 -12
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
I hope someday to be able to love like Mama Aloni and Mama Fibi. They are remarkable.
love to you today
love, compassion, sacrifice and amazingness
Their job descriptions include cooking for feeding scheme and maintaining Kuyasa's building...no small task when you have hundreds of kids running around everyday. Mama Fibi is also the house mother in the safe house for several teenage girls who have no other safe living option.
That's their "job" but they perform so many unquantifiable tasks. Mama Fibi is soft spoken but her tender hands are strong when she pulls me into her every morning for a hug or grabs my hand as our paths cross during the day. Mama Aloni can be clearly heard proclaiming, "SisNora! Yiza, Love, yiza!" from the other side of the building in the middle of feeding scheme. Obviously when she calls I come running with anticipation and she strongly pulls me in and says, "Sissy, today the children are very active. Here is my inspiration to you," and gives me a hug and a kiss. She is at a perfect height that I can bend over slightly, rest my head on her shoulder and let her support me for just a second. But in that second, I am rejuvenated, encouraged and loved beyond measure fro the rest of the day.
They give the best hugs and have the best smiles I have ever experienced. Hands down. No competition. They are fully devoted to Kuyasa, the kids and the staff. I think they actually make the place function. There's days when I run around like a crazy person organizing, planning and teaching but if I step foot in their kitchen or come into a room they are mopping I must stop for a second, take a breath, receive a sincere hug and soak up their love. They show me on a daily basis what it means to love. When I want to kill some kids, Mama Aloni's firm love and Mama Fibi's soft love come to the front of my mind and I, as well as the kids, survive another hectic day. And it's not just surviving another day, but thriving in another day. It's knowing what joy means and experiencing that completely in life.
They give and give and give and never ask for anything in return except the occasional broom to clean up after feeding scheme or a marker to keep track of the kids in the line. That's it. They are remarkable. They are the manifestations of love. These words do not do them justice. These two women have changed my life in ways I can't explain. Purely by their actions, I am changed. They love unconditionally. They give wholeheartedly. They serve fully.
1 John 4: 7 -12
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
I hope someday to be able to love like Mama Aloni and Mama Fibi. They are remarkable.
love to you today
Friday, April 9, 2010
Visa
It was a long and frustrating battle but I have come out victorious with my visa extended! Whew, praise the Lord! Thank you for all of the prayers in regards to this. Although it may have been fun to refer to myself as an illegal alien, I think I prefer knowing that they can't use this as an excuse to throw me in jail.
When I phoned Home Affairs for the billionth time this morning they said they didn't have it so I decided to go there anyway and not leave without it. I was fully prepared to dig deep and find the aggressive and obnoxious American that, to some extent, lives deep inside all of us. When I got to Home Affairs there was no queue (a miracle in itself) so I walked up to the counter ready for battle, handed over my paper and was told to wait for a few minutes. I decided to hold back the aggression for when they told me they wouldn't extend it but in about 10 minutes they walked out with my visa...they had it the whole time! Everyone's theory seems to be that they were just trying to screw me over since I'm American...not so nice but, in the end, I won and that's all that matters :)
Thanks for the prayers and rest assured that I am legally allowed to be here now!
When I phoned Home Affairs for the billionth time this morning they said they didn't have it so I decided to go there anyway and not leave without it. I was fully prepared to dig deep and find the aggressive and obnoxious American that, to some extent, lives deep inside all of us. When I got to Home Affairs there was no queue (a miracle in itself) so I walked up to the counter ready for battle, handed over my paper and was told to wait for a few minutes. I decided to hold back the aggression for when they told me they wouldn't extend it but in about 10 minutes they walked out with my visa...they had it the whole time! Everyone's theory seems to be that they were just trying to screw me over since I'm American...not so nice but, in the end, I won and that's all that matters :)
Thanks for the prayers and rest assured that I am legally allowed to be here now!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Preaching
"Preach the Gospel always, if necessary use words."
-St. Francis
I've always thought about this as our actions speak louder then our words. This is for sure true but I've realized a new definition of actions. Actions aren't just being a servant leader, dishing up others' meals before your own or helping an old lady across the street. I realized today that the smallest of non-verbal interactions can speak volumes.
I needed a second to escape the chaos and took the chance during the transition from Kids Games to feeding scheme. I stepped inside to the reception area where there weren't any kids and the volume was decreased from deafening to just really loud. While the lines were forming outside and students were running around getting food ready for the kids, I turned around to find a little preschool boy staring at me from about 20 feet away in the front of the line outside. I smiled at him and he returned it. The next minute of our lives consisted of an exchange of funny faces - I gave him a goofy grin, he returned with a crossed eyes expression, I puckered my lips like a fish, he puffed up his cheeks like a blow fish and we continued on in our own little personal conversation. We ended our conversation laughing with each other when we weren't even in the same room and the world was scurrying loudly around us. Our little playful conversation let me show him that I love him and he returned the affection. Over the distance with no words spoken and no high-fives or hugs exchanged, we are stronger friends now.
Yes, actions speak louder than words. But I'd like to add that sometimes subtle actions speak louder than big actions. It's good to follow St. Francis' advice but I now realize it's not only big mission trips or hours at the Gospel Mission that preach the Gospel. Sometimes, the love of the Gospel can be shown when you're not even in the same room as someone. If my little guy can understand at this point that I love him then, hopefully, when he hears again about Jesus' love he can understand it a little bit more.
Go out and preach today!
-St. Francis
I've always thought about this as our actions speak louder then our words. This is for sure true but I've realized a new definition of actions. Actions aren't just being a servant leader, dishing up others' meals before your own or helping an old lady across the street. I realized today that the smallest of non-verbal interactions can speak volumes.
I needed a second to escape the chaos and took the chance during the transition from Kids Games to feeding scheme. I stepped inside to the reception area where there weren't any kids and the volume was decreased from deafening to just really loud. While the lines were forming outside and students were running around getting food ready for the kids, I turned around to find a little preschool boy staring at me from about 20 feet away in the front of the line outside. I smiled at him and he returned it. The next minute of our lives consisted of an exchange of funny faces - I gave him a goofy grin, he returned with a crossed eyes expression, I puckered my lips like a fish, he puffed up his cheeks like a blow fish and we continued on in our own little personal conversation. We ended our conversation laughing with each other when we weren't even in the same room and the world was scurrying loudly around us. Our little playful conversation let me show him that I love him and he returned the affection. Over the distance with no words spoken and no high-fives or hugs exchanged, we are stronger friends now.
Yes, actions speak louder than words. But I'd like to add that sometimes subtle actions speak louder than big actions. It's good to follow St. Francis' advice but I now realize it's not only big mission trips or hours at the Gospel Mission that preach the Gospel. Sometimes, the love of the Gospel can be shown when you're not even in the same room as someone. If my little guy can understand at this point that I love him then, hopefully, when he hears again about Jesus' love he can understand it a little bit more.
Go out and preach today!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Service
This week and next week is holiday for the schools. This means there's lots of kids, nothing to do and a lot of trouble they could get in to. To contribute to the prevention of trouble, Kuyasa steps up the programming. In the mornings we have Kids Games for the younger ones. It involves, you guessed it, games! I'm a station leader and have been able to pull out some of my Camp Geneva games which has been a lot of fun. I suppose it's good to know Car Lot is successful no matter what hemisphere you're in! I also had a triple jump competition one day and am still standing in awe of their natural talent...once a trackster, always a trackster?!
In the afternoons there were service projects available for the youth. I worked with the Appreciation Team baking cakes and making cards for public services and organizations in the community like other NGOs, social workers, the clinic, police, schools, etc. The sole purpose was to say thank you and let them know their work is noticed and appreciated. Tuesday was one of the delivery days so I went with a group of 8 students to deliver three of the cakes. Two of our stops were at NGOs who are doing great things in the community. At both of these places there were staff members who cried a little bit because of the generosity of the students. We chatted and prayed with them and it was obvious they were rejuvenated and encouraged in their draining work. Being the lone white girl in a group of youth caused them to think I had a lot to do with this project. It was great to contradict them and let them know it was all the students' doing and I really had nothing to do with it!
The youth were eager and willing to make and deliver cakes and cards to uplift others. They were taking possession of a project to better their home by encouraging the very people who are actively doing just that. In our debriefing times it was obvious they recognized the rewards that came where they didn't expect it. My group saw the joy and gratefulness of the ladies we visited. They were also encouraged to work hard in school and to make choices which build them up instead of tear them down. The group who went to the fire station got to ride in the fire truck which was a new and fun experience for them. The rewards flowed in for these kids because they sacrificially gave of their time to think of others.
I have noticed this same type of thing in my time here. I have been blessed way more then I've been a blessing, I am sure. My joy, peace and happiness have increased as I've invested a little time into a few kids.
I encourage you today to serve someone with no expectations for anything in return. I then pray that through the experience you are blessed 100 times over.
Have a great Easter! Eat some chocolate for me :)
In the afternoons there were service projects available for the youth. I worked with the Appreciation Team baking cakes and making cards for public services and organizations in the community like other NGOs, social workers, the clinic, police, schools, etc. The sole purpose was to say thank you and let them know their work is noticed and appreciated. Tuesday was one of the delivery days so I went with a group of 8 students to deliver three of the cakes. Two of our stops were at NGOs who are doing great things in the community. At both of these places there were staff members who cried a little bit because of the generosity of the students. We chatted and prayed with them and it was obvious they were rejuvenated and encouraged in their draining work. Being the lone white girl in a group of youth caused them to think I had a lot to do with this project. It was great to contradict them and let them know it was all the students' doing and I really had nothing to do with it!
The youth were eager and willing to make and deliver cakes and cards to uplift others. They were taking possession of a project to better their home by encouraging the very people who are actively doing just that. In our debriefing times it was obvious they recognized the rewards that came where they didn't expect it. My group saw the joy and gratefulness of the ladies we visited. They were also encouraged to work hard in school and to make choices which build them up instead of tear them down. The group who went to the fire station got to ride in the fire truck which was a new and fun experience for them. The rewards flowed in for these kids because they sacrificially gave of their time to think of others.
I have noticed this same type of thing in my time here. I have been blessed way more then I've been a blessing, I am sure. My joy, peace and happiness have increased as I've invested a little time into a few kids.
I encourage you today to serve someone with no expectations for anything in return. I then pray that through the experience you are blessed 100 times over.
Have a great Easter! Eat some chocolate for me :)
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