in the meantime, i have to tell you about a book that is *rocking my world*! one or two days after i got home from kenya, a book came free in the mail from Compassion Intl (since i'm a child advocate). it's called HOPE LIVES and you all need to run run run to buy it now. (isbn: 978-0-7644-3788-5)
the book is 5 weeks of study about the poor and what God is asking us to do to love the poor. i'm not finished yet but every short study leaves me inspired, challenged, moved, convicted, and spurred to live more generously.
today i read a chapter about the author's visit to another slum in kenya and it was like she knew my experience and wrote about it for me....
When the children saw the troop of us coming, they started running, yelling Wazungu! Wazungu! (White people! White people!) [mzungus- in swahili where we were] Many of them looked like they had been playing dress-up in some rich kid's toy box... Some kids wanted nothing more than to give us a high five and sing out, "How are you?" We called back "Jambo!"...
writing about a woman whose home she visited, she wrote something similar to what i felt when we met pastor sammy:
This is it. This is who God calls blessed. The poor and meek who thirst for justice... She knew she was a valued child of God. In that second, all my accomplishments (however few)--my degree, my title, my knowledge, my possessions--we nothing, absolutely nothing, in comparison with this woman. God's love filled that room, emanating out of her.
the chapter ends with this prayer that resonates in my heart.
Dear Lord, I want to be like you. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit and use your Word to transform me. Help us to value what you value, to love those in this world who I've been conditioned to ignore. Help me to have faith that is rich and childlike, so I can see with your eyes.
the previous chapter has this prayer which is my prayer today.
Dear Lord, I praise you that are a God who cares about the poor, the oppressed, and the hungry in this world. Thank you also that you have offered rest to me. Help me to restin you and not to take the burdens of the world upon myself. Help me to do everything in the love of Christ. Let that be the heart that motivates and guides me. Thank you that you are transforming me each day to be more like Christ.
every day i think about zoey, the little girl at new life that God used to teach me. every day my decisions about spending or eating or keeping "junk" are affected by visions of kibera. every day i ask God what steps he wants me to take next. he's been asking me for a few years now to make drastic changes toward a more simple life, and he's so very patient with my love of the gap clearance rack and chocolate desserts. and yet i beg him to daily help me to live simply so others can simply live.
ps. if you have itunes and can get the Blackhawk Ministries podcast, i spoke about the trip on May 18. it's at the very beginning of the podcast. i don't claim to be a great speaker or love having people listen to me, but somehow i trust that God spoke through me and want you to hear of His wonders.
slowly by slowly i'm sharing this blog link with more people as i get the courage to let people read my ramblings. i trust God to use it somehow for someone!
oh, the trip to new orleans was fun. there's pics on facebook if you are there...
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