Day 7: Stars in their Eyes

The last day of our visit we were taken to a government-sponsored orphanage in Xai-Xai where there were between 43 and 48 children in residence. Last month when our team leader, Dennis, had visited this same orphanage, the team had handed out a few clothes, but not much else. After playing with the children, his team ate lunch at a relatively new Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in town, and he remarked that he felt sick that he was eating so well while the children back at the orphanage were so deprived.

This time, thanks to donations from several small groups of 12Stone, we returned with 50 kg bags of rice, cooking oil, beans, four bags of clothes, and even flip-flops for the children who were shoeless. Equally important, the entire team pitched in to distribute toys, candy and love—we played games, blew bubbles, kicked a soccer ball around, colored with new crayons, and bounced a ball on a parachute. Most importantly, we all took turns holding various children or hoisting them up on our shoulders, even singing and dancing to the “Hokey-Pokey,” which seemed to be a big hit in spite of this team member’s poor singing voice.

Of course, there are orphanages around the world where children are raised in substandard conditions—one could ask why we are spending time and money ministering to this one. I guess it’s like the story of the boy picking up star fish stranded on the beach and throwing them back into the ocean one at a time. It made a difference to this one, and I think Jesus is smiling.

We ended the day visiting an advisory board of World Hope International in Mozambique and hearing how they are pledging to keep the cattle and wells project more “sustainable” in years to come. We then went to the Bible College that Orey and Linda Lehman had built back in 2000. Today, there are over 40 students in the 3-year program, and there is hope that they can add at least 20 new students each year (up to 75 in the college at one time). The price to sponsor one student for one year is roughly $1000.

In spite of a little "Mozambican revenge" that made me ache all over my body today, I am feeling pretty good about our work and play here in Mozambique this week. I think there has been as much impact on each of us team members as what we might have done for the Mozambican communities. Short-term mission projects are notorious for lack of long-lasting results, and I am haunted by the quotation that started me on this journey 8 months ago: "Lord, break my heart before I break yours."

If nothing else, I think I'm beginning to see the world as Jesus sees it--not as Americans, Anglos, or even Southern Christians do. I can’t stop thinking of the boy and the star fish on the beach...or perhaps the Biblical stories of the lost coin or lost sheep. What we really are working to provide is esperanza...... hope. But, not just any 'ole hope. The kind that Francis Shaeffer describes as "true truth"........divine in its origin, and intensely personal in its delivery.

Esperanza al mundial,

bill