Words cannot express the blessing poured into my life over the past two weeks. I went halfway around the world and met my Indonesian family. When sharing about my trip some may expect to hear about the poverty or the oppression of the church or how hard it was to give up the comforts of home...all of these are snapshots of my trip, but all of those snaphots are canvassed against the background of love. On our first day we met the churches at the 2 Compassion sites we partnered with...we were welcomed with open arms. The churches told us that we were their answer to prayer...they had fasted and prayed for us for months. I was so humbled and amazed by their faith. Day after day we came alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ. The women prepared meals for us, the youth and men worked side by side on the construction project. The translators and teachers were gracious in inviting us into their classrooms to teach ESOL every afternoon. The children were beautiful and amazing. We never experienced a communication barrier, because the most important expression was God's love. We gave freely, yet in return we were blessed beyond measure. We gave what we came to give, but their work carries on...day after day they give all they have to raise up children who understand God's love. In a predominantly Muslim nation there is no name for Allah which signifies love. On a weekly basis 500 children experience love...in the teachers, a home cooked meal, a smile, or the encouragement to go a step further, dream a little bigger and hope in a God who is love.
Coming home was hard. Immediately I was confronted by situations where love was not the first language spoken. Inside I want to scream because of the overwhelming touch from God I received. I already see myself caught up in our selfish society...even as Christians we succumb to fulfilling our own agenda. Yet tonight, I was reminded of I Corinthians 13...so familiar, but as so many passages a breath of fresh air because my frame of reference is different. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
Sunday, August 19, 2007
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