I just sat down and re-read all my past blog posts from last
September till now. I was SO encouraged to see how far I have come in the past
9 months. It brought me such joy reading about my evangelism stories back in
wales, and how God was growing and stretching me back then. Also how He had me
experience certain things, and had to grow me in certain areas to prepare me
for my time here in Bobo. It was especially encouraging because I haven’t felt
like I have been growing much recently, rather just surviving (which is what I
have been praying against). Two weeks ago we finished teaching French to the
Marinatha ladies, and just this last week our guitar lessons finished. A few
weeks ago my back went out and kept me down for a couple days, but then the week
after it started feeling better it felt like it went out again. With the
physical pain, the feeling of things coming to a close here in Bobo, events
going on back home, and the acceptance to Moody I found myself more just trying
to survive than really thriving. It’s a good thing that God’s perfect will and
purpose is so much greater than “how I feel!”
It was in this state that the reality of life in Bobo really
hit me. I think that for the first time I stopped treating this like a “convert
the heathens” missions trip, and saw things through new eyes. Let me tell you a
story:
Zack and I had just arrived at home
after teaching at the ABC school. We were walking to our door when I heard
yelling to my right, so I looked over and saw this boy named Clave hitting one
of the girls in the compound. You know those kinds of kids where it is really
easy to be angry with them all the time? Well, Clave is one of those. It seems
like he is always trying to get into trouble. He goes through our trash and
takes things, yells in our windows while we are trying to read or sleep, and
seems to always be fighting with other kids during kids club. He’s always
dirty, and rarely changes his holey shirt and pants. So angry-Blake ran over to
break things up (not necessarily b/c clave was hitting her, b/c all the kids here
hit each other nonstop, but more so b/c it was Clave causing trouble…again!)
But when I got there I saw why he was attacking her. I took the little dirty
ripped photo from her and gave it to Clave who was ready to fight me to get it
back. I asked, “who is it?” he said, “my dad.” At that I got shivers knowing
that this was probably the only thing that Clave had of his father. Even here
in the compound that I live in, where everyone is “Christian,” the majority of
the children do not know their fathers. I realized that Clave is not a terrible
child. He is a little boy without a father. A little boy who wants to be loved.
I think I am beginning to see an answer to my daily prayer
for a love for the things that He loves, and a hatred for the things that He
hates. It is cool to see the transformation of my passions and desires as well
as my relationship with sin as I seek Him more and more. Here’s another quick
story:
On Thursday I was feeling rather
apathetic and sinful, and was well aware of it. That afternoon I was speaking
at kids club. So I sat down to read my bible and prepare. Here is where, if I
were telling a good story, I would say that I had some great revelation and God
spoke to me or something… but that didn’t happen. I left for kids club ready to
share the story of the prodigal son with the children, but not feeling
spiritual ready. Once again, it’s a good thing that the God’s will is not
dependent on how I am feeling! I began to speak with a Jula translator translating.
As I spoke, more and more people began to stand around the mass of children
sitting on mats in the dirt. A bunch of teenage boys were listening and also a
group of older women. As I spoke the reality of the revolutionary forgiveness
from the father became real to me as well! I spoke as a sinner who didn’t even
deserve to come back to his Father on hands and knees begging for mercy, but
while contemplating what to do the Father RAN as fast as he could to me and
threw his arms around me. Because the people were listening I went ahead and
took advantage of the opportunity. I spoke about Jesus, and forgiveness. I
shared what it means to repent and how all we need to do is “repent and
believe.” And then asked if the children would stand and pray with me. To my
surprise some of the boys came forward and prayed also. I led everyone in a
prayer of repentance. Then we went off and played games and the boys took off,
but it was cool for me to see God at work despite me and my “feelings.”
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support! I have never been more excited about my future and how God will use my time here in Bobo to grow and stretch me for years to come! Know that God is GOOD! And that he IS at work here in Bobo. Love you all. Watch this:
