The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-20, NLT
When I awoke this morning – to the exuberant sounds of Mr. Alpha Rooster at 3AM and the mournful howls of lovesick Tiger dog – I wouldn’t have considered this to be a special day. In fact, it felt very much like a typical Monday. You mean I gotta get up?? NOW??!? C’mon, just let me sleep until SEVEN! Ten more minutes!!
Sure enough, I finally crawled down from my upper-bunk perch at around 7, quickly threw on some only-somewhat-dirty clothes, grabbed my Bible and my journal, and headed out to our dining area. I always enjoy these few minutes I have to myself before breakfast. Though there may be others out there, no one is expected to say much more than i buto maber (good morning, literally “how was your night?”) or respond with atye maber (“I am ok”). We sit in silence with only the incessant buzzing of the swarms of flies to disturb our peace. This is my solitude: watching the sun rise over the trees, the morning mist hovering just above the grass, the cool air a refreshing change from the staleness of our hut and the stifling mosquito netting. Each morning feels like a miracle, the dawning of new possibilities that excites a new awakening inside to the adventures ahead.
We had our usual breakfast of french toast and tea or coffee, and Ryan brought our team devotions. He read the passage above and reminded us of the important role and specific purpose that each of us fills on this team. I can testify that I have seen the team really pull together on this trip. Each person seems to have a well-defined role and space that only he or she can fill. With the addition of Jenna and her 3 cousins, I was concerned how that might affect our team dynamic, and if they would easily find roles to fill. But they fit right in, being the same age and life stage as the majority of our team, and add a new dimension with their unique skills and abilities.
Once breakfast was cleaned up and dishes were washed, I headed up to Kindness House to help Grace and Consy with their morning chores. Of course, Rachel and Mary were there with their darling smiles and charming personalities to greet me.
I could seriously pack them up and take them home with me. They literally just sparkle together. I caught them singing, and my heart just absolutely melted.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCvaXn5-mec&feature=g-upl[/youtube]
Seriously, how precious is THAT??!?!
I mopped the house – I do believe my hamstrings will be much longer and stronger by the end of the week – and I do believe I am getting better and making progress in my skills. I will probably never have the long, graceful legs that Consy and Grace do, and will probably never be able to make mopping look as simple and effortless as they do, but if I can get to the point where my legs aren’t screaming at me, I would be satisfied with that.
Grace then gave me a HUGE surprise: she actually let me help her cook! I started by chopping the onions.
They’re red onions, but much smaller than what we’re used to, about the size of a large clove of garlic. Kristie had helped with the mopping, so she got to assist with the cooking, too, chopping tomatoes.
While we were working the girls came up for breakfast, and I had an opportunity to snag a picture as we ate our porridge together.
Once the onions were chopped, the breakfast dishes were washed, and the girls were headed back to school, I received another BIG surprise. Grace let me COOK the vegetables! She showed me how to heat the oil – over a wood fire, mind you – and stir the onions, add the tomatoes, and put it all in the beans.
I showed this picture to George, the office administrator/foreman of the construction crew this picture to prove I had been working and cooking. He claims I was posing. I can assure you, I was working, because unfortunately, I think the onions got a bit overcooked. I hope I didn’t burn them, and I really hope they tasted okay.
After that debacle, Grace informed me there was nothing left for me to do to help. I ended up hanging out with Rachel and Mary, who introduced me to baby Lamaro, which means “beautiful one.” I definitely agree.
That old phrase “it takes a village” takes on new meaning here. While the mothers are busy with their chores, the children actually take care of one another, all under the watchful eyes of mothers and “aunties”…and muzungas like me.
Little Lamaro is a good baby, and a real cutie, even if she doesn’t quite understand what to do with this pale, white-skinned muzunga.
Even in Africa, little girls like to play “mommy”…but their dolls are real.
While I was playing with Rachel and Mary and picking seeds out of the rice, a woman stopped by Kindness House. Her name is Christine and she lives in one of the nearby villages. From what I could understand she comes by a few times a week to sell milk from her cows – or goats, I’m not sure which. She spoke Acholi and French, but through a translator complimented me on my “nice legs”. Apparently cankles are very fashionable in Uganda these days. Anyone who says I have nice legs is automatically on my BFF list, so of course I had to take a picture.
All too soon it was lunchtime. We at our posho, rice, beans & cabbage and I helped Winnie wash the dishes afterward with Kristie. I know it bothers her that no one else volunteers to help, but I realized something today that has made all the difference. Call it a “life lesson.” Call it an “aha moment.” Call it a “Little Debbi Sermonette: It’s like a snack cake for your soul.” Call it an epiphany. Call it an apostrophe. Whatever you choose to call it, the bottom line is this: You can’t be upset with others for not heeding *your* call. God called *me*…God laid this on *my* heart…God asked *me* to serve in this manner. It doesn’t matter if no one else joins me, because if I do the job God called *me* to do, no one else is needed! It only takes one…and God will equip that one, even if the job is washing cups and dirty forks in a large orange bucket in a remote village in the middle of Africa.
I had some time after washing dishes to shower – African style – and put on some “not-yet-dirty” clothes. Elizabeth helped prepare the vocabulary cards for this lesson – our lesson on the sense of touch. The students were very eager to come and explore the items in the touch bags…
…but were either too embarrassed or shy or unsure of themselves to try to describe it to the class.
We tried a few more times, but the result was always the same.
The book I had chosen to read to them was The Jacket I wear in the Snow. Although jackets are common here – believe it or not, it does get chilly at night – snow is a concept they can’t even begin to imagine. I know. I grew up in South Florida and never saw snow until I was nearly 18 years old. Even then, I was surprised to discover snow is COLD. And WET. So I know how these kids must think about snow. Concepts like mittens, scarves, long underwear…I wondered how well they would comprehend.
And then, of course, there’s the mother in the story. First of all, the child has one. A real, living, breathing mother. What’s more, this mother is caring and compassionate. And to top it all off, she not only soothes her wounded child, but brings her in from the cold, comforts her, and cares for her. I didn’t know what kind of response this might elicit. Would this bring painful memories? Would the mere mention of “mother” upset them? Would this cause them grief?
I spent some time in private prayer before this lesson and as I read the book. I wanted the children to remain engaged in our activities, to hear the Bible truths, and learn about their wonderfully created bodies, modeled after their Creator. My fears and anxieties were all for naught. The children LOVED the book. They caught on to the rhythm and pattern quickly and enjoyed reciting it with me…this is the scarf, wooly and red, that matches the stocking cap for my head… They were interested in learning about these strange clothes and noted the texture words…itchy, warm, scratchy, bunchy, hot…that mimicked some of the clothes that they wear.
We had to cut out some of our activities due to time and other constraints, but made sure to include our Bible verse and song. We taught them Ephesians 2:10 about being God’s workmanship and the song “Isn’t He Wonderful”, which they loved. These provided a natural segue into Ryan’s Bible lesson. I hope and pray that these truths are sinking deep into their hearts. I want them to know – not just in their heads, but in their hearts – how deeply they are loved, how utterly precious they are to their Creator, and what wonderful plans He has in store for their lives.
After school and chores, I had the opportunity to visit with Linda and some other girls from Kindness House. Linda in particular wanted her picture taken in non-school clothes. She had dressed in one of her nicest tops and a matching skirt for the occasion. I could tell, she wanted to look pretty…and she did.
I wanted to be sure to get that whole message in the picture. Someday I will send this photo to her with a letter, and I want her to see herself standing in front of that promise. I want it to be as if God is saying to her, Linda, my child, ALL things are possible. Stick with Me, and you’ll see. I promise…and I’ve always been true to My word.
As is always the case, just like with Lay’s potato chips, you can’t have just one. More pictures were in order. They told me exactly who to put together and arranged themselves exactly they way they wanted the photo shoot to look.
They always want to hold the camera. My batteries were starting to wear down, so I have learned to start saying “no” to them. I do let them look at themselves afterward. Hearing their giggles when they see themselves on camera is priceless.
I don’t believe there is anyone in the village with a brighter, more dazzling smile than Proscovia (on the left). Just look at those pearly whites!
I had to get one of her by herself. That smile, that beautiful face, brightened my day every time I saw it. And then, just because I’m a ham, I had to get in on the action…but only for ONE photo.
Rachel and Mary, my two precious shadows, were never far away. And just like the big kids, they wanted a picture of themselves next to the sign. I was only too happy to oblige.
We went out to the football fields so the big girls could play American football. Rachel and Mary wanted to play, too, but were much too small to hold their own against those big boys. So we took some time to play “Ring Around the Rosy” together, and although they had no idea what the words were, they thoroughly enjoyed the part about all-fall-DOWN!! They caught on to that one pretty quickly. We had a few other half-pints join us before my rash became too itchy for me to continue.
Careenna and Kristie took over for me so I could get out of the grass. I took the opportunity to clean up at our hut and as I was preparing the campfire area for dinner, I looked up and saw this approaching:
I *so* remember doing this for my own children when they were about the same size. And just like my children, Rachel and Mary begged “again! Again!” with great big huge grins on their faces. Such childlike joy. Such unabashed exuberance…toward others, toward life. These two bring such joy to my heart, and remind me about everything that is good and wonderful about being a mom.
After dinner, rather than playing games, the group gathered under the dining shelter and Victoria brought out her guitar and began leading an impromptu worship session. The past few days have seen some negativity creeping in to our little group, whether it be personality conflicts or personal struggles or even attitudes displayed in some of our games that we’ve played, so I viewed this as a real opportunity for us to refocus and renew our spirits. I sat with the group, but listened more than I sang. I needed some time to process through the emotions and experiences of the past few days, to let my heart catch up with my mind, to allow my spirit and body to realign. It’s been a fast and furious pace, and I needed some time just to “be still.” I was greatly encouraged just listening to the passion of a younger generation rising up to praise His name…knowing that the very I AM that I worship is still the same God today, still on His throne, still drawing people to His kingdom and to His purpose. It was a wonderful reminder to me that though we are on this journey together, we are also on our own individual journeys. God is working in and through each of us uniquely, to shape us distinctly to be more like Him, to allow us to be the specific tool He desires to use to reach the world for His sake.
And if that means He wants me to be a big toenail in the body of Christ, I’m totally cool with that.