A worm

My laziness in writing really comes out when I see how longs it's been since I posted something. So, I apologize even if it's only to myself.

I wanted to share something that has really been on my mind recently. I wanna choose2B a worm. Kinda been fond of them for awhile now. I really liked the book How to Eat Fried Worms when I was younger. I like to fish so finding worms was always good too. But mostly I have been wanting to be a worm because of what they do.

Days, weeks, months, and even years can go by without ever noticing worms. However, there is hardly a day that goes by when we don't see the effects of worms. Worms like to hang out were things have been thrown out, at least if you want the big nightcrawler kind. The areas where its moist and trash lays around. Another place you are likely to find worms is in the manure. They apparently like to hang out in the crap, literally. Night and day they are there unnoticed doing there thing. They are changing the composition of their environment. They eat what is bad (I still never found the mouth on them when dissecting them) and then they leave behind good soil. In fact they make the environment they live in into one of the best places for growth. We want worms in our gardens because they make the soil better.

Personally, I need to be more humble. I would love to reach a point where I could work all day and night and no one would know it was me and God would receive the glory. I don't really wanna eat trash, but I do wanna go to the places where things and people are thrown away, the manure piles and trash heaps of the world. I do wanna work there and help produce growth. I believe they are just waiting to be gardens for God.

The truth of the matter is there are already men and women serving as worms all over the world that we will never know about. There probably were some in your life that cultivated a relationship with you. I want to join them in producing good soil. That may be down the street or around the globe. And if I'm no good at making the soil better then maybe God will dig me up put me on a hook and fish for people with me. ;) I can only hope to make that sacrifice!

May you choose2B a worm and cultivate the life that is in Jesus for others!

Dedicated

OK,so many weeks ago while I was in Sierra Leone, I promised I would write a blog about the circumcisions. Many of you know that when I start a story I will always come back and finish it even if it takes weeks. I will always remember to come back. SO for those of you who have been waiting for this blog here you go.

So, In the middle of my trip to Sierra Leone were two days in which circumcisions were performed on some of our guys. The first week our older ones 10 and under who had not had this done did. The next week our little ones who were in the same boat had the same thing. Yes I'm sure you have lots of questions. No I did not actually go inside the room while one was taking place. I did stand outside the door where the doctor was working. For those of you who do not know, circumcision is necessary for health reasons, and in America boys are circumcised at birth. Even knowing this fact does not help me to get over the thought. As I listened to our boys on those days and watched them in the next couple of weeks as they healed, some parts of scripture took on a new life for me.

In the early church, there was a pretty heated dispute among the Jews and the Greeks over circumcision. The Jews believed it was necessary for salvation because it was a part of their tradition while the Greeks did not. Now I had never put much thought into this idea until being here and living a non infant circumcision. I am glad that Paul did his best to let the Jews no that it was a circumcision of the heart that God really desired and not simply a physical one. I say this because I don't know how dedicated I am to Christ. I don't say that lighty. We say that when we choose to follow Christ we have to give up some of ourselves. I don't know that THAT is what I would want to give up. I marvel at a saint like Timothy who was circumcised so he could speak to the Jews with more credibility. I unfortunately don't know if I am that dedicated.

I am thankful that God has called and continues to call me. I am thankful for the tough situations I find myself in that allow me to grow in my faith. I am thankful for those who has come before me and are example of true sacrifice. I pray that God will continue to circumcise my heart and get rid of what is harmful to me. I ask God to use me as he sees fit, even if it hurts a little bit. I know if my boys in Africa can do it, so can I. God may I choose2B more dedicated to you today.

I don't have a cute title for this

Well I find it hard to believe that it has only been 2 weeks since I flew back from Sierra Leone. It feels like a lot longer. People keep asking me if I'm adjusted to life back here. Sure (that's a typical response from me). I don't really know what that means. I have a lot of wasted, well at least they seem wasted, days were I don't feel like I am making a difference. The day after I arrived home my parents called to let me know my mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery last week and is doing fine and looks to be cancer free, but cancer is a disease of patience so we will see. Things at the church are not what I dream for. I think that is more upsetting because I know how upsetting that is to God. Prayer lists are always longer than praise lists and I wonder why. Why is everybody in America so freakin down on stuff. Look around you and see what God has blessed you with. I find myself falling into the same trap of missing God here. Lord give me crosseyed vision to see you and be thankful. I will choose2B a difference maker and a positive influence (I am trying to take my own advice as I write).

Well after rambling here at the beginning I have been meaning to write this blog for awhile. I miss Sierra Leone and yet there are some things I don't miss. So here is my list of things missed and not missed.

I do not miss......
the humidity - I lost 12 pounds on my African sweat diet, and I didn't have much to start with.
the smell my clothes gave off when wet
slow internet
corn on my pizza - don't knock it till you try it. i'm not saying it was bad I just don't miss it. it can be a side but not a topping.
swatting mosquitoes while using the bathroom
having security talk to me through my window each night and scare the crap out of me.
the road through Lumley
shopping at the market
carrying millions in currency in my pocket
seeing people suffer, but I remember it in my work.

However, I do miss.....
the sunsets off the guesthouse balcony
fresh baked bread
watching all the lizards run away when I walked around
seeing the difference I can make
making the female staff laugh
teaching the cooks "how to cook"
walking up the hill to go to school
Cari and Jessie
speaking to people on the street
rice (believe it or not)
riding the motobike to town
being able to focus more on God
watching sponsors talk to their kids
talks in the older girls room
getting the younger girls room in trouble
discipling the older boys
chasing the younger boys
holding hands
walking into the babies room
laughing at Moses
walking with Lucy
seeing God's provision, grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in the lives of each person at The Covering
being picked to play soccer
"Mo gi eats"
worship and prayer time
AND ON AND ON AND ON

I am continually thankful for the renewed passion I received for God while I was visiting with my new neighbors. I can't wait to stop visiting and start living with them. Who knows what God has in store. So I will try to no longer miss it but instead look forward to it. I look forward to carry those feelings to my life here. God help me to enjoy my life wherever you place me. I choose not to MISS you anymore.

The Beginning

It's early in Sierra Leone, which makes it late in the US. I'm up too early again. Probably because I have so many thoughts that race through my head every moment I am awake here. In about two hours I will be sitting in front of the kids as they have a good bye ceremony for me. Yep, 6 weeks have come and gone. Some days it seems like time has just flown by and others it seems like I have been here forever. People in the states keep asking me if I'm sad. I take offense to that question most days. Yes, I am sad. A couple of years ago I realized that living in America was not my favorite thing. Each day there I am faced with stuff that angers me and what I believe God wants FROM his people. Each day in Sierra Leone angers me too, but it's because I don't think this is what God wants FOR his people. I know that when I get back people will not understand. They don't want to. No one likes to be convicted. We all would prefer to think we are doing our part to help the world.

This week as I have been preparing to leave I have had the opportunity to sit down and have long discussions about life with some of the staff and some of the kids. I feel like I am apologizing for what America is. Their view of America is so inflated. If they just knew how selfish we are, including myself. I found myself having to go back to a staff member and apologize because I said I wasn't rich. We want to be rich but not called it because it kind of makes you a snob. Here I was telling someone who will make less this month than I will make this day that I am not rich. Maybe I am a snob.

Well, off of that and on to better things, leaving! No I am not happy to go, but I am OK with it because I know "I de cum back." I smile each day when the things I have taught them are repeated to me. Even when It means I have to share my flavor-ice with all the guys because Sorie remembers "Uncle you said, God says if we have two we should give the other away." as he smiles and opens his mouth waiting for me to pour so "sweet" in. Well it may not be a direct quote from Jesus or even from me but they get it and they laugh. I will miss the laughs from a bunch of orphans filled with the joy of the Lord. I am ready to come home and start something new. My life is different of course, but it's more than that. God has allowed me to glimpse the difference than can be made. Now my job as his mouth piece is really just beginning. Today I hope to finish emptying out the stuff I don't want and allowing God's spirit to fill me with what I need to start over. It is the same message I will give the kids today as I leave. Remove the stuff that is stopping the spirit of God from filling your life and using you. It's time to go now. I leave with a smile knowing Jesus left his friends and he promised to return. He did it because he knew things were just beginning. I leave knowing I will be back and that my new life is just beginning too.

I pray today you choose2B the beginning of something great, something new, something Holy, something that changes the world. I tell my youth you don't have to change "the" world, just "a" world to make a difference. I am happy that mine has been changed :)

It's Monday

Today started like many of my days here, awaking at an early time. I don't know why my sleeping is so out of whack, but it is. So anyway, I was up early. No power for the last three days, (and we ran out of fuel for the generator) so my cold shower was in the dark. Since it is my last week, I headed over to the center early. The mornings are always a calm time there. The kids move like zombies and are really well behaved when they wake up. Well most people move like zombies at 7am. I waited on the out of center school kids and walked them to school. Walking with them may be one of my favorite things to do. I have gotten over the fact that it is uphill. Most days they want to hold my hand and talk about, well you never know what they want to talk about, but I always enjoy the conversations.

When I got back to the center I started trying to work on fund raising. No luck as the internet just would not cooperate. I gave up after an hour. Next it was time for the staff meeting. I thought our staff meetings were long, but this one was 3 hours. Don't worry I'm not complaining. I loved it, well most of it. I knew it would be the last time I would have a chance to talk to the whole staff all together before I left. I like listening to their ideas and what they believe the problems are. You don't have to be here long to realize how important food is. It is always the main theme of discussion. Today I was humbled in 3 ways during the meeting. First, it is awesome to worship with the staff. Singing with them and lifting praises to God was great. I was thinking about how the whole neighborhood could hear us, but more importantly the kids. They can hear their aunties and uncles singing and praising God. Second, was during prayer time. I love hearing the passion behind their prayers. Hearing them cry out for the children, the organizations, each other, more of God, and then for me. Yeah after I came and spoke to them for a second about being servant leaders they chose to pray for me. Again, I was humbled. Third, was watching them give sacrificially. There is a need in the center that all of the staff felt was important so they each brought money forward to pay for a solution. It wasn't much, but when you think about how little money each one of them has this is huge. I was reminded of Jesus poking the disciples in the ribs when he was watching the old women stick money in the plate at the temple. I had a since of gratitude and thankfulness as I watched them give out of their poverty. Humbled is a good word here too.

After the meeting it was back to solving the worlds problems, well at least if the center is your world. Trying to make the budget balance, figure out what happened to the money, deciding where money is going to come from, figure out who is going to fix the shelves, and a host of other things were on the afternoon schedule. While all this is going on Cari and Jessie are def having a Monday. Jessie is suffering from a headache and Cari's computer is crashing. The kids invade the office and that is not a good thing. So by 3:30 the ladies look as though they are going to pull their hair out. Wait, oh both of them are promising to scream. I decided to take a break and head back to the guesthouse for a little bit of a break. (apologies for changing verb tenses throughout the post today, I am well aware but dont care it makes my writing more fun for me) I was looking forward to having the master power back on and getting a flavor ice from the freezer. Wait no MP and no fuel which still equals nothing and only a little battery life to do work. Blahhhh! It's all good though, I discovered money to nail down October expenses and then it was back to the center. Andrew asks smiling,"Everything better now? Ya'll look happier!"
"No, still the same," they grumble as I head into to Quammi's office to have a discussion about staff. Soon the kids are waking up from their naps and its time to pull them out of our office again. A little soccer and jump rope help you forget all the days troubles.

When I got back to the guesthouse the ladies were stuffing their faces with dinner. "You gotta try this. It's pretty awesome!" And it was. I convinced them to sit the rest of the evening on the porch since it was quite cool tonight as we had a nice breeze. Jessie even had to put on her jacket. Our evening ended as many of them do, with laughter. Thanks to cockroaches, goats, emails, and Jessie's quotes we end the day smiling. It's just the ups and downs of a Monday. Can't wait for tomorrow. :)

This Stinks

No I'm not going to talk about how I smell after sweating all day. No I'm not going to talk about how deodorant is a luxury. No I'm not going to talk about how an orphanage can smell on a hot day. I'm going to talk about this being my last week.

Since, Saturday almost everything is my last. It's my last Saturday. Today was my last Sunday. It was my last church service. It was probably my last football game with the kids playing to watch. It was the last hair day. It was the last time to get the kids together after worship. Well this list could go on but it is depressing.

So today I had the opportunity to speak for worship. Of course the youth minister is using object lessons. This morning was about how God doesn't look at the outside, but at the heart. The object lessons and the skit went over really well. At least, the kids who stayed around to talk could all tell us what the story was and what the point was. It was a pleasure to have my last opportunity to do it. The rest of my day was spent trying to just spend time with the kids. I don't get to hang out as much as I want with some because they are in school all day and then they take a nap. It hurts when I hear from those I am close to "Uncle Andrew, we do not get to see you anymore. Do you really have to go back. Please stay" That stinks!

I don't really know what all my last week holds. There are projects I need to finish, budget discussions that need to take place, videos that still need to be shot, and goodbyes that will have to be said. Each day I get on Facebook people are reminding me it is my last week. That stinks! Each time I go to the center the kids and staff remind me I am leaving. That stinks! But mainly it is leaving a country that still needs us. It still needs you. There are so many others in need of saving and I'm not just in this for the short haul. This place needs us to keep working to find ways to save the orphan. If we give up, as they say here "Is foul!" That Stinks!

Touch

Four summers ago I was leading our Road Rules mission trip to Houston for the night. We stayed at St John’s United Methodist Church. St John’s is right in the middle of town and is lead by Pastor Rudy Rasmus. Maybe you have seen Pastor Rudy’s Power Hour on TV. St John’s has made a commitment to the homeless population and boy they are doing a great job. Pastor Rudy, who himself was once homeless, has written a book titled Touch. I see the book sitting in my office but have yet to read it. Some others who were on that trip have. The book is about the importance of physical touch and how Jesus used this in His ministry.
Even though I have never read the book, I live inside the pages of it every day. I carried the concept into my ministry. I usually touch every youth that comes on a Sunday night. It’s my way of saying I value them. I do it with my kids in Sierra Leone too. Each day begins with me walking into class or the nursery to just touch them. Maybe it’s a tap on the head, a reaching out and squeeze of their hand, a pat on the shoulder, or, what has become the Uncle Andrew trademarks, the 5 and the tickly finger to the ribs. I see the impact just a touch has. Their faces light up. They know they are valued by me. I really like going to the nursery and just pulling the finger out with the threat of a tickle and the little ones scream with joy and run around.
Each day also brings a new form of touch from me in my words. I don’t think time spent talking with me is worth a whole lot. Maybe a few laughs and an “Oh, I can’t believe he said that,” but that’s about it. However, I have discovered that the conversations on the back porch with the cooks, the housekeepers, and the laundresses have been very meaningful to all of us. The times I spend saying hello to all the teachers when the kids walk out, and the arrival “How de sleep?” questions for the staff, and the Krio lessons from the former presidents security have developed a bond. I remember that before I came I thought it was funny to have me be the person who would relate to the staff. God knows best, I guess! It has been a blessing for me to learn from them, to laugh with them, to laugh at them, and share in their life. I hear each day, as they count down the number of days I have left, that I have touched them and they do not want me to leave. But they have touched me too! It’s the rye smiles, the making sure I have eaten, the questions of why I am not married (I ask that one myself), and the harassment for my return. I feel safe to say that the staff and I have ministered to each other.
Then there are the kids. They touch me, all the time. It is hard to play football with the boys while a girl has each arm and another is hugging you around the waist to keep you from running. However, I’m not half bad at it. My back has gotten stronger and it’s not from just carrying my bag every day, but rather it’s the boys who climb on me like I’m a jungle gym. I like feeling my knees get hugged by the little ones when I am not watching, or the constant playing with my hair that amazes them because it grows all over my body. Most of all I like the hugs from the older ones who go to school outside the center each day, when I walk to meet them or when they arrive back. I like the little hands that wrap around my fingers and the smaller hands that fit just right inside mine. I feel God ministering to me. I feel his love in their touch. I hear Him saying “I am with you. I haven’t given up on them and I haven’t given up on you.”
There are so many stories in the Bible of Jesus touching people, but I will end with the one about the woman who touched Him. In Mark 5:24-34 a woman who has been suffering for 12 years touches Jesus and is healed. I have had the opportunity to touch Him while I have been here too. Am I healed? I don’t know. I am not even sure what all my life was sick with. I can say that I have been made more whole, and I hope God has touched others through me in the same way. Today, I pray you choose2B the touch that changes someone’s day.