Cold Water, Warm Hearts-Africa day 5

Today was another day spent at the feeding center doing VBS. As we drove on the bumpy rodes in the bus I prayed and prayed for energy and a heart of compassion as I was lacking some of my previous qualities due to some mild exhaustion. Just in time, Jesus, pulled through and as the doors opened, I smiled as big as I could and welcomed each and every child that I passed on my short walk down the path to the school. Immediately, the day started, while we waited for the teachers to lead the children in thier morning songs I hugged and loved some of the children on the outskirts, the children that didn't make it into the feeding program, and the older children that were there to look after there younger sibilings in school. I began to feel burdened to look after these children today. 

We started the VBS and came to craft time. As I handed out crayons I took a bit of a risk and gave some to the older girls sitting on top of a mound watching the little ones.  I then proceeded to grab a coloring sheet so they could participate. They loved it, and tried to color there very best. I had swaddled the little girl from yesterday that was thin and frail and tied her to my side. With her sweet arms rapped around me I went to sit with the young women ( keep in mind they are probably only 10 or 11 years old, but have much more responsibility than any older sibiling in the US) I said to them,
" You are so beautiful and smart!" They looked back at me in awe as if I were an alien. I smiled and they finally replied, " Really? Thank you, you are beautiful too!"  It was as if they had never heard it before, and my heart hurt knowing how important it is for young women to hear that they are beautiful and smart. I continued and told them all how God made them special, and he loved them so very much! They smiled with each simple statement and giggled as they drew. One girl asked, " Will you draw me Jesus?" I laughed and thought, gosh I can't draw anything close to Jesus with a crayon. I created a circle with a smily face and some wavy hair. Then I realized, she is a visual learner just like me, I need to use this opportunity! So on each girls white coloring sheet I drew Jesus, a heart, and the word YOU to remind them that they were loved and not forgotten.

The day went fast, and hours passed with this little girl tied to me, she had fallen asleep for a while in my arms untill I woke her up for feeding. The kids were gathered around a bucket trying to wash there hands. I knew this little girl was hungry and eager to eat, so I brought her to the bucket. I washed her hands and sat her down to wait for her food, finally the plate came and she stuffed hand after hand full in her mouth as if she would never eat again. I helped her stuff some of the lettuce in and wiped her face. She stood up and proceeded to wet herself right where I stood, I smiled and lifted her off the ground. Barbra and I yanked her pants off and washed them in the water. Meanwhile she ran around, with a full stomach and no pants! 

Mealtimes are crazy and every child is hungry. Today I had the mental strength to hand out the food. I would go back and forth from the outdoor makeshift stove, with plates of food, and find a child that had not received thier meal yet. After setting the plate down the children shoved the food in thier
mouth and were finished quickly. I noticed a pile of plates was gathering and the 3 women cooking

the food from early this morning, like they do every school day, were finally sitting down for there meal. My head spinned for a second and said what a tedious and noble job they do! The Lord spoke directly to my heart and I humbled myself for service. 

I went directly to Paster Edward and said with quite a powerful Spirit," I am going to do the dishes, ok?" He looked back at me in disbelief, saying "You are going to wash the dishes?" " Yes,Pastor.." I answered.  "Well, okay," he replied. I think he knew that this strong christian woman was not changing her mind and like it or not I was washing those dishes. He walked me over to where they pumped city water into a hole they dug in the ground and lined in rocks. I set my hoodie where my knees would kneel and lifted my skirt up a little so I could sit. I then proceeded to joyfully wash about a hundred plates in a cold hole, with the little soap they had left. To test my faith even more, a drunk women had walked from her home to give us a few words. She said, "You feed my children, but you do not feed me! I am hungry too!" Her words played over and over in my head and a little
fear ran through me as she poked me and yelled to us Westerners. We eventually fed her, and I prayed she would be at peace. 

 I was splashed and soaked completely, but I had an overwhelming comfort and humble thoughts that overcame me. I could see myself doing this very thing for the rest of my life with joy. I even got an amazing compliment by the cook, " You are a true Zambian, a sweet African woman!" I giggled and told her I had waited for this moment all my life. Which in reality I had, I was at the feet of Jesus and laid down every ounce of my heart for his glory and service. I was doing exactly what I was always meant to do. 

1 Peter 3:4 " Your beauty should come from within you- the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is very precious to God."