For those of you who were unaware, I have spent the past week in a beautiful village seated in the hills of Mount Elgon. I lived in Kaptorwa village with a family of 7. I lived with my host father, Daniel and mother, Patricia. They are the proud parents of Eric, Sara, Selina, Aggrey, Fiasco (true story!) and Norris. My home was a semi-permanent home made of sticks, mud, water, cow dung and ashes. My family owned one cow, a few pigs and many chickens. There was no electricity, so the sun, moon and stars were my only source of light. Food was gathered from the grounds and trees surrounding the home and was cooked over the fire. Water was fetched from an underground pump about a 10 minutes walk away and milk was collected from a family friend about a 20 minutes walk away. I have learned that village life isn't easy, but it's beautiful and I admire the village folk very very much. To describe all the events that have happened to me this past week and all the emotions that have come along with it is impossible to cover in a blog topic. If you wish to learn more, feel free to facebook message me or ask me about it when I return. To sum it all up a head of time, this week has renewed my mind and reshaped my heart, opening my eyes to God's presence, protection, and magnificence. For now, I am going to give you just a few scenarios that thought me about "riches that can't be purchased with money."
A Table Prepared Before You
A visitor to the village is highly respected. My host father told me on many occasions that my presence brought them much respect from the other tribesmen. My father's phone was ringing nonstop by family and friends because they wanted me to come and see their home. Notice I didn't say they wanted to come to my family's home. They wanted me to visit theirs. Most of my mornings, then, were spend walking across the village to meet and greet member's of my family's clan. Many of the houses I visited were semi-permanent like my own. Some of the houses were grass huts and none of them had electricity. To the typical western mind, these people were very poor, possibly surviving on only a dollar a day. Their clothes weren't something any of us would by at the local mall. Their feet were dirty from not walking in shoes and their hands were callused from all the daily labor. But the people I encountered at Kaptorwa were some of the most kind-hearted, genuine, compassionate, hospitable people I have ever met. They would milk their cow and prepare tea for me. They would slaughter their chicken to prepare meat for me to eat. While the woman would be slaving in the kitchen, they would open their small homes for me to eat in their living room. A giant table was always prepared before me, and eating only one plate of food wasn't acceptable. Before the meal, a prayer was always prayed to bless the food and to thank our Father for giving resources to prepare it. Whenever I would try and thank the families for having me, they would return with even more favor and thanksgiving for being able to have me as their guest. As I made my way from family to family, my physical eyes were seeing their suffering and their lack of all things so easily accessible in the states, but God reminded me to look at more than worldly things. As I made my way from family to family, I saw the joy in their spirits as they prepared a meal in the small, mud made kitchen. I saw the gratefulness in their eyes as I went back for more cabbage and beans. I saw their genuine humility as they asked me to simply pray for them so the Lord may grant them a chance to one day build a permanent home. I saw love in their hearts as they, too, prayed a blessing over me. I have never been touched by so many families as I have this past week. I left asking myself this one question, "Who am I to judge and feel bad for the looks of these people, their homes, and their lack of materialistic things when they have just laid down all they have to prepare a table before me?" Hospitality is a rich that can't be purchased with money but can be found in places where you may least expect it.
When Presence is Enough
Throughout the day, when I wasn't hiking, climbing, exploring the village or visiting with neighbors, I was sitting. Sometimes I was sitting alone and sometimes I was sitting with family or family friends who knew no English. Often, I found myself sitting in complete silence with only the sounds of nature ringing in my ear. Frankly, I had no reason to get up and move because I had nothing to do and no where to go. I would often find that the people I was sitting with were quite content to sit in silence. My host father would later tell me that those I were sitting with were very pleased that I spent time with them. My presence was there and that was enough. In my mind I would be thinking, "Why in the world did they enjoy spending time with me? We didn't do anything. We sat there like a few bumps on a log." By the end of the week I stared enjoying sitting in silence and with people who I communicated very little with, if I was able to communicate at all. I found that in those times I was able to appreciate the gift of presence and use that quiet time to pray for that person and ask the Holy Spirit to show me what he loves about that person. What I began to be reminded of is that all the people of this world were made and created in the image of God. We all behold special characteristics of him. That means that if so many people enjoy the presence of another, even if that means being present in silence, no speaking, no distractions, just being, then God also enjoys presence. I was remi
nded that God also loves when we sit and spend time with him. We don't have to have any agenda. We don't have to have conversation. All I have to do is be present with my heavenly Father. Through the silence and the act of simply being, I was reminded that presence is enough. I was reminded that God sheds light through his people and if presence is enjoyable to those made in his likeness, then he too enjoys presence. Presence is a rich that can't be purchased with money but can be a gift that is given whole heartedly and mean more than any gift purchased with tangible cash. Faith and Hope for a Future
My very last night with my host family, I was put in charge of the fellowship my family has before hitting they hay. I had a gift of a Willow Tree Angle entitled "Beautiful Wishes" that I wanted to give to my family, but I wanted to find the most meaningful way to present it to them. I decided to have everyone in my family go around the circle and give me one wish they have for their lives. As we sat outside in the kitchen lighted by a kerosene lamp, I was moved and touch in such a beautiful way. Many of my family members wished for these grand and extravagant plans. As I was listening to their biggest dreams, a part of me was thinking there is no way these are all going to come true. How was I going to react when they were finished? I couldn't tell them that one day the wishes would become their reality because I honestly don't know where God is going to lead them. I was on the verge of tears when my mother made a few wishes. One was that she prayed God would listen to their prayers and give them a hope for a good future. She wished for faith that God would outdo all the wishes her children had mentioned. Then God told me that he absolutely adores my host family. He has a very special plan for them and he will never leave them dry. I was reminded of the verse found in Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.." God is going to blow those wishes out of the water and my family is going to dive into the shores of grace. Faith and hope are riches that can't be purchased with money, but can be found in the heart of the Lord. My family has such a beautiful wish and their trust in God is one to be admired.
When you think about Africa, what are the first few things you think of? For me, I think of many things. I think of how Africa is a grand part of the world and God has got the whole world in his hands. I think about those starving children and how sitting in their presence means more than any toy that can be bought for them. I think of the warm welcomes and the hospitable, non-judgmental spirits of the Christian population. I think of how the Lord has given such faith and such favor to the people. I think of how God is very very present here, and how through simple things he manifests himself and wait to be found. I think of when God is seen and how breathtakingly beautiful is. Africa has many third world countries that desperately need radical transformation, but when I think of Africa I think of the people who I have encountered and how humble I am be the blessings they have poured into my life. The Africa I think of is a part of the Lord's heart that is exploding with compassion and a place in the world where material possessions is far from being rich.
Seven Second Version
Africa is way more beautiful than you think. There's more to the heart of Africa than the poverty you may see with your physical eyes.
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