Come walk with me down a road in Zimbabwe in my memories. We are headed to a orphanage that is unique in nature. It has orphaned children and elderly destitute people living together here. Together they provide support for each other - the older teach the younger about life, and the responsibilities of growing up. And the young children teach the elder to love, and provide the arms and legs for the work daily.
People that had been thrown away find Jesus in this humble place together.
Children who have suffered the loss of their parents usually through the suffering of Aids, find their way to comfort in the arms of the older.
Setting together getting ready for devotions each day, everyone arrives to set on the logs or the dirt itself. t's quiet here, a cool breeze sweeps through, birds sing overhead and their voices of prayer are lifted in the outside atmosphere calling on God for daily bread.
Greeting us with gifts we all rejoiced at being together again. Simple gifts for us and our acts of kindness for them, our mutual love for each other was obvious.
This little building is the morgue here. When someone dies the others place the body in here and lock the door awaiting authorities to come and take it. Once a elderly man died and he was placed in here and locked away as was the custom. The next day when devotion time came, banging and kicking and shouts could be heard from the little building. At first fear came on the others listening, but then they recognized his voice so joyfully they opened the door and let him out! He had come back to life while they were all praying......
Setting here with the women. we share smiles, and the pure joy of being together again. What is so great about setting here in seemingly abject poverty? These people while suffering greatly have learned to cherish small joys in life, they have a freedom from modern pressures, stresses and anxieties, they share each other's life, the value of God in ones heart, and His close Presence all around. This ...... is a richness that those who live on the other side of the world experience daily.
Today I walk back to this place in my mind and remember all of these people. They live far back in the bush country, and I wonder if they will eat today. Soon we will begin a campaign to raise the funds for distribution and travel expenses as we head back to Zimbabwe representing Moms Against Hunger. And we will experience the joy again of giving to people who will greatly benifit from the food and provisions shipped to them.
We are coming Zimbabwe.....
I will tell you more later...
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