I have been back in the US now for about 2 weeks and I am
continually struck by all things ‘merica. Don’t get me wrong, I have enjoyed
the endless coffee, cheese, and chick-fil-a but the stark juxtaposition of
setting is so ever close to the surface all the time.
I have and continue to have sweet reunions with family and
friends but the friends I left are ever on my heart and mind as well. It is
truly a process to return just as it is a process to go.
As the adjustment continues, I find myself so many times
thinking and praying for the ones there. I was able to see the beginning of
something so encouraging before I left….
It is a Wednesday morning and I am waiting in a parking lot
for a friend of mine who is a chaplain. We are heading out to a village to
visit a family that has become very dear to me. After about a 30 minute moto
ride, we come to a fork in the road and my friend has stopped. I catch up to
him and he asks me which is the right direction and we continue to our
destination. He goes on to remind me that the last time he was in this village
it was the middle of the night. He was coming to tell this family we are
visiting today, that their 1 year old child has died and they need to come to
the hospital. You see this family’s child “lived” at our hospital for many
months and at times the family could not stay because of the other demands at
home. We would care for their child so that they could return home. But, on
that night, my friend had to go and retrieve them and tell them that the worst
had happened and they needed to come.
I had been out to this village several times since then but
I had forgotten that my friend had not and all of that emotion just flooded
back in that moment.
However, today was the day that a Bible study would start in
this village. The death of their child had cut a wound in a couple of us that
was very deep, but through that loss and pain, we began a journey with this
family that led to this day. To the day when the Bible and the truth of Jesus
could be told among them, in their heart language, in their own village. I was
so encouraged to be able to see the beginning of that study before I left. I
told my friend, who will continue this study weekly, that my heart was full
when we left that day. As I am here, in the US, it is comforting to know that
this study continues. I pray for the walls to fall and the veil to be lifted
from around the hearts and minds of this family, this village.
Below are the lyrics to a song that cannot play without my
mind and heart being reminded by times in Togo that were so hard and more
questions remain than answers. One of those times is that night with this
family’s child. But, there is a hope that even when my human mind and heart
cannot and do not understand that I can rest that there is one that is
sovereign over me.
Sovereign Over Us
“There is strength
within the sorrow, there is beauty in our tears
And you meet us in our
mourning, with a love that casts out fear
You are working in our
waiting, you are sanctifying us
When beyond our
understanding, you are teaching us to trust
Your plans are still
to prosper, you have not forgotten us
Your with us in the fire
and the flood
You’re faithful
forever, perfect in love, you are sovereign over us
You are wisdom unimagined,
who could understand your ways
Reigning high above
the heavens, reaching down in endless grace
You’re the lifter of
the lowly, compassionate and kind
You surround and you
uphold me, and your promises are my delight.
Even what the enemy
means for evil, you turn it for our good.
You turn it for our
good, and for your glory
Even in the valley,
you are faithful
You’re working for our
good, you’re working for our good, for your glory
You’re faithful
forever, perfect in love, you are sovereign over us. “
This study happens at 7:30am every Wednesday. Consider
spending your Wednesday mornings praying for this study, this village, this
family.
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