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AUGUST
28 , 2006
YESTERDAY
. . .
The name of the book on the coffee table was "Classical Music
Unbuttoned". The backcover said it contained
commentary on the centuries of Classical music, an introduction
to theory and a guide to help novices appreciate
its depth. Interested, I randomly opened the book to page 289 of
700 and read...
"John Corigliano wrote his Symphony No. 1: 'Of Rage and Rememberance'
inspired by the AIDS tragedy, both an
angry and a moving work." Suddenly, my eyes teared up with
hurt and despair. What can anyone hope to do in
the face of this horrible, stalking disease?
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of
these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
(Matthew 25:40)
Christ, in His mercy, has made it possible to face even the most
overwhelming crises of our time with love instead
of despair. The answer to the statistics and the World Vision commercials
is... to reach out. Even if just to ONE.
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SOUTH
AFRICANS HIT THE ICE!
Well,
you would have laughed, too. 10 young
adults, 15 teens (2 needing the bathroom), 25
pairs of skates, 0 pairs of socks, 1 sheet of very
rough ice and only one Canadian to sort them all
out! But all the kids from Christ Church Care
Centre managed to out skate those of us from
Rosebank Union Church by the end of the day.:)
Our once-a-month YA outreach definitely went
well. More people from the church seemed keen
to join and the kids responded well. Thank you
for praying that those from the church would
take an interest outside our walls. I will continue
to plan events and outreach days to help in
physical or care-giving ways for Christ Church
Care Centre (where the kids are taken in from
the streets and many are the children of prostitutes).
Please
pray with me that these outreaches will
effect all of us involved and will bring new
understanding of service and love.
What a day, what fun to watch, what a joy to
see kids with so little opportunity rise to a
challenge!
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A GIFT IN RETURN
Spending
time with the kids at Oasis is still my main focus here
in South Africa. I love them each for their own little personalities
and quirks and have changed more diapers than I care to
remember! When overwhelmed by world issues like AIDS and
poverty, all I have to do is think of ONE child at Oasis and the
chaos seems beatable. Their eager response to any love I give
them is enough to assure me that God has me in the right place.
A discovery
that has meant a lot to me is just how much these
kids love me. What a gift it has been to have the kids scream
my name when I arrive everyday; to have them lined up doing
their best to sing 'Happy Birthday' to me last month; to hear "I
love you" whispered back to me when I tuck them in at night.
What a wonderful reminder that you
always receive more when you give.
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REFLECTIONS
I
am midway through my time in Johannesburg this year - I'll be
home for Christmas before I know it. I had a bit of a mid-trip
crisis recently. "Am I doing enough?" "Am I meeting
my goals?"
"Am I missing anything that God is trying to point out?"
But through all these questions, I had to remind myself that, in
the end, I am not here for the many needy children of South
Africa - that thought is just too overwhelming. I am here to love
those in my path because God first loved me. All of this is only
possible because He has led me here. I must love and serve Him
first and, then, from my overflow of joy, love and serve those
around me. It has been a wonderful realization that "HE has
the
whole world in His hands".
I do want to thank you for praying for me. As I have said
before, it is an endless comfort to me that you care and believe
in the work I do with the children at Oasis and the various other
projects I visit. I am extremely grateful to our God for leading
me to Johannesburg to take part in such precious lives.
We're working together - seeking to add God's love to a few
lives!
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