Tanzania11 - tanzania11

Dusty paths led to the rice sack acting as a blanket on the ground for two small children who sat there half clothed.  This appeared to be where they spend a good portion of their day while the widow continued on with her chores. She emerged from the mud hut as we approached-an elderly woman with worn hands and a face displaying the trials she has faced.  She quickly invited us in to the dark room and shoed the chickens away from the wooden seat in the corner. We obliged with a sense of honor.  She asked for prayer-We opened our hearts to the words God would have for her and they flowed freely as we prayed.  The widow had very little and worked hard to create a life for herself after the death of her husband, however she went in the back room and emerged with the gift of a shilling for us.  She was so appreciative of the prayer and blessing from God that she wanted to sacrifice her hard earned money as a gift to Him.  The interpreters reminded us of the insult if we were to refuse this gift so it was placed in my pocket-I thought I would find a purpose to share it later.

Later down our path we met a teen aged girl.  She asked us to come in and pray for her grandfather who is very ill.  She pointed to the center of the darkened room where a figure lie beneath a plaid blanket on a rice sack which was laying on the hard, dirt floor.  A tall man whom I imagined once to be strong and vibrant, laid curled up beneath the blanket attempting to find comfort from the pain of the end of his life.  He watched us with clouded eyes as we laid hands upon him and prayed.  His last request wat to pray for medicine to ease his pain.  Just then, I remembered the gift of the widow....the shilling that she placed in my hand became a gift of comfort for the dying old man.  What a blessing to witness the goodness of God and to be used as a vessel to carry out one small piece of His mighty plan.  It is a comfort to know this man may have a moment without suffering because of the blind faith of the widow.

The next day was the feast.  800 people showed up at the feast after being invited during the visits.  I looked out at the crowd and one particular face stood out among the rest....the old man who could hardly walk, see or move a day earlier had come to the feast to praise his maker. His vacant eyes showed a sparkle and his mouth turned up into a slight smile-it appeared his pain was gone-at least for today! 

Praise God!!

"The message is close at hand-it is on your lips and in your heart"  Romans 10:8

I walked into the dark, mud hut and sat on the little wooden stool offered with a wide smile by the young woman. I felt allured by the welcome and overtaken by the lack of concern for the little they had.  Her husband entered the room after riding his bicycle home to participate in the visit, not wanting to miss this rare happening. The invitation to pray and unite with the God we share seemed simple, unassuming and lovely.  The husband and wife, so young, poor but thankful shared their smiles in appreciation for our time spent. 

When the invitation to pray was extended again, several small children were collected and followed wide eyed into the room Each of them followed by other children from the dusty, dirt yard.  Their eyes upon us, fully trusting in these new faces and feeling drawn to our loving eyes.  Down on my knees, my prayer hands extended to the children as I prepared for the blessing...One small black hand reached out and laid softly in the palm of my hand.  Her eyes meeting mine with a love pouring out unmet with hesitation. Another hand was next, yet another and one more placed one upon the other until this room of children with hands once outstretched, placed them one by one in mine.  Their eyes were affixed upon mine, waiting for the prayer. 

My message was on my lips clearly spoken by God as my heart poured out with such a deep connecting love for these cherished little people.  Thank you Lord for the blessing of these beautiful children of yours.  Thank you for blessing me with the gift of this moment-one that I will cherish and remember... forever.

As I returned to my room that afternoon I had planned to shower and rest but was refreshed and drawn to write this poem.  I thank God for this gift and the opportunity to share it with you. 

"HAND IN HAND"

By Wendy Holm-2009

One small black hand once reaching for food

Now crosses the globe trusting it is good

Another black hand joins the reach-then a smile

Eyes so gentle-Please stay a while

Two, three, four hands-and yet another

Joined for the blessing-directed by mother

My heart poured out- overflowing with love

Feelings so deep-from our Lord up above

No words to express such a moment of depth

The white hand wiped the tears that were wept

The hands all unite-a loving healing touch

A small simple gesture-meaning so much

No longer a fear-no longer a doubt

The truth was before them-the only way out

The white hand extended to brown black and red

Let no-one go unnoticed & no-one go unfed

Jesus has called us-He calls us again

Dear brothers and sisters love all as true friends

Our differences many-Our language unfit

yet the welcome were plenty-Together we sit

Our prayer hands extended-Our hearts open wide

Our offering simple-In Christ we abide

So dear friends, companions-whom we never knew

There is no greater expression to share with you

As we hold out our hands-the precious gifts of our Lord

Always sufficient-through us it is poured

It is my hope that all of you can extend your hand to others around you and see them with the same eyes that our Lord sees us.  This was truly an amazing moment and I pray for God to take away the barriers and walls that we put up that take away the joy in seeing others in this way.

Wendy

Words cannot express the mission that you helped support.  The people were so welcoming and so amazing.  They have so little, we have so much.  They have so much care and love for their famies and give of their time, we have so little time to give.  We share so many things, love, caring, kindness, but the distance between us is so great.  One outstretched hand and a loving smile can connect immediately without any distance between us.  The connections were deep, the impact on both sides was immense. 

Thank you for supporting this trip through your prayers and gifts...We were able to invite and feed over 750 African people who had a chance to praise and worship the same God as we.  The music, the love, the appreciation was evident as it continued for hours and hours ending in appreciation and joy.  We were able to complete an entire church floor hand in hand with the African people.  We offer our help, they offer anything they have...which is very limited materialistically but abundandant physically-I have never seen such willing, hard working, non-complaining individuals.  The appreciation was abundant as well as the willingness to keep going even though they were as exhausted as we were. Truly amazing!!

Your prayers were answered, your gifts spent well to help a community who has very little.  Thank you from the bottom of my (our) heart.

Wendy

Thanks Gary and Christine,

The time in Tanzania continues to open my heart and mind to the bigger picture.  Your partnership in this mission was very moving to me...I learned a lot from you and as I walked along side both of you I saw the love you have for each other and all people.  Thank you for being so open to what God has placed in your hearts.  YOU make a difference!

I have never really thought much about adoption....it is interesting.... now that I have visited an orphanage and had an instant connection with one child.....I have thought about the reason for adoption with a much different lens.  So many people who have had the priveledge of having and raising their own children may not ever think of adopting a child because they have their own families and they can focus on giving their own children a good life.  At least that is what I always thought...that adoption was always about the people who couldn't have children of their own (ie...it was about them and what they wanted).  Wake up call....AFRICA!!  I totally can see that adopting a child can be totally about the child!!! That changes everything! Hmmm!

I recall the flurry as we move through the iron gates into the street outside the hostel.  The young boys who have been in waiting rush forward for their chance to be ther first. We look out as they quickly encircle us as we consider their wares. Each moment became a call for each boy to move in closer and pull you into their pitch hoping to be the one.  They are working for pennies with often days between each sale.

We asked them if we could pray for them.  Some boys joined without hesitation. The others did not present the same flurry to join the prayer as they did to earm the sale.  Rather, in a curious, tentative way they started to move toward the rest of the group, eventually joining in.  We prayed, they stayed and there was no doubt that God was present.  We will never know the outcome of this prayer, but we do know that it doesn't matter if we ever know....what matters is that we accepted the invitation, obeyed our call and reached out to be a light. May the seeds continue to be planted and as the days unfold, may the fruit of the spirit grow in these boys!!

Thank you for this day Lord.  As I  rise I think about the others who are so far away...removed from this life I live. 

I think about the kids and their 3 mile walk to school. They have such a desire to improve their lives through their education.  I think about many of the children (my own included) who don't understand or appreciate the opportunity of education they have before them....I have influence on these kids....What can I do about this??? 

I sit here thinking how sad it is that there are children who desperately want to attend school but can't because their families cannot afford the $40.00 a year cost.  In contrast we have families (mine included) who can go to a dinner spending that $40.00 and not even give it a second thought.....It makes me think!??? 

I think about these kids walking three miles to school in their one pair of shoes being satisfied to have them and finding myself dissatisfied with my selection today of 10 pair.....It makes me think!??? 

I think about these kids walking the same three miles home from school at lunch time only to find very little food waiting for them and myself opening my cupboard to select from hundreds of items for my own satisfaction...Thinking some more!?

I find myself constantly looking at life through a new lens....wanting to find ways to making things better.....wanting to help others see too!