Goodbyes and Tomorrows

“And by your name we cry, Abba Father” As I sat in church this Sunday, trying to take in every single moment, I was struck by something completely different than what I expected. It being our last Sunday in Litein, I wanted to remember the songs, smells, the sounds and the words spoken. I wanted to remember the face of the pastor and every small detail but what I remember instead are the sweet voices of the children from the orphanage in Litein. There is something about hearing orphaned children sing your praises, Lord, that break my heart every time. To hear them say, “Lord I lift your name on high. Lord I love to sing your praises. I’m so glad you’re in my life, I’m so glad you came to save us.” It seems amazing to me, how forgiving children can be. The adult in me struggles with the “why” of so many things of this world (orphaned children being one of them). They willing cry out thanks to God for their lives because they have some food and a place to sleep and feel protected. My heart screams out for them questions that aren’t mine to express. I sit comfortably on my bench in church, tears rolling down my cheeks because I can’t help but think of all the things they have experienced – the pain, the rejection, the fear, the uncertainty. These children are stronger than I could ever hope to be. Instead of cursing or blaming God for the evil that they have been exposed to they thank Him for the good He has done.

I praise you Lord for your faithfulness in the lives of your children all over the world. I thank you for rescuing your children and placing them in foster care, adoption agencies, and children’s homes. Thank you for giving them a second chance in this life to know love and joy as you designed it. But, I beg your protection and provision for the sweet children that are still sleeping on mounds of trash and who know the pain on starvation all too well. May they know, in some small way, your love today so that they might have hope to carry on in a world void of any hope of its own to offer.

Now… for a change of pace I’ll fill you in on what our schedule looks like for the next week. It seems that our time in Litein, has indeed, ended too quickly. We are leaving on Wednesday for Massai Mara. We will go on safari there and then head into Nairobi before leaving on July the 26^th. It has all passed so fast and I am not quite ready to return to the world of packed schedules, busy lifestyles, and time demands. It has been so nice to “be free” here in Kenya. My heart rejoices at the time the Lord allowed and all that I have learned, seen, and done. My “clay made heart” aches to question the gentle, firm hands of my potter… but I will refrain again. I take comfort in knowing that I am but a small piece of the puzzle and that my faithful Father is always at work. I don’t fully understand all that the Lord has done or is doing through this stay but I do know that He IS doing something.

“Now we know in part but soon we shall know fully, just as we are fully know.”

Pray for God’s grace as we say goodbye to all of our friends at Litein. Pray that God provides closure in our work and a sense of completion for the summer. And lastly, pray that God provides safety in our traveling and continues to draw us closer and closer in His arms. It is easy to shut down and prepare for the end and miss an encounter with the Lord, I pray that this final week allows time to really reflect and draw near to our gracious, loving Lord. May God bless your lives this week with enough joy to make you fully aware of his presence.