"He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." -1 Thes. 5:24
Finally arriving in the village of Ilula late Sunday night, we were welcomed by the children after breakfast Monday morning. I have seen their welcome ceremonies before, yet I am moved to tears each time I'm welcomed back home. All the children stand in a circle, sing and give you a bouquet of roses. You walk around the circle, shaking everyone's hand as they say "Karibu" to you. When it was my turn to be offered the roses, the beautiful child said words I've longed to hear in 4 long years... "Karibu Nyumbani" (Welcome home). I looked into those beautiful eyes, as I heard those words and peace flooded my heart... I was finally home again. I gladly responded with a big, traditional "Asante Sana" with a smile on my face and watery eyes I could not deny. At the end of the circle our team stood in line, joining in on the song and dance... I felt at that moment that if my heart could smile, it was smiling then. I prayed to the Lord with thanksgiving, "thank you Lord for bringing me back home". In those moments I treasured the blessings of a calm heart and His peace which surpasses all understanding. In those moments it didn't matter what we had just gone through, it didn't even matter that I'd barely slept in over a week now. In those moments, I felt the Lord say, "I brought you here, this is for you... enjoy it and welcome home".
Karibu Nyumbani!!!
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." -Jer. 29:11
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." -Prov. 3:5-6
No comments:
Post a Comment