Recently an acquaintance asked me if I had already been to Africa and come back. Well, yes, over and over in my head... but no, not literally. "Two YEARS," I say, "not two weeks." And already, before I have gone, that sounds like not long enough, although the only other thing I have done for that long is to keep going back to school.
The lovely lady who co-leads my home group prayed for me and said, "I see you on a long road." I can see me on a long road too. It is narrow, and dusty, and I don't know where it goes. But around every corner there are new faces to meet, skipping children who will appear beside me and peer at my queer pale skin. And in the heat of the day there is the promise of a cool evening, or a clear stream over the next rise. And in the dark of night, a glow on the horizon that will bring a glorious dawn. This is our promise. In Isaiah God describes the "perfect fast," how he desires mercy from us, not sacrifice:
"...and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." (Isaiah 58:10-11)
I saw Mercy Ships new mission statement today (I think -someone said it anyway) -"to provide a compassionate response to a world that has lost hope." That's what it means to satisfy the needs of the oppressed -to bring hope to those who have none. To share Mercy. And believe me -it is not a sacrifice for me to start down this long road. Don't tell those who are giving me their money in honor of my self-sacrifice, but between you and me -I have been sitting beside this dirt road for so long peering impatiently, with dusty eyelashes, into the horizon that the most sacrificial thing I could do would be to keep sitting here.
Anna,
ReplyDeleteWe look forward to you joining our team onboard the Africa Mercy! Though the quote you mention is not a new mission statement, we are committed to following the example of Jesus and bring hope and healing to those that had all but given up on a chance at life. You are just getting ready to begin this journey, a journey, that will not end in two years time, but stay with you a lifetime. Once you have Africa in your heart, it will never leave. Thank you to your family and friends for allowing you to join our team. Safe travels and we will see you soon!
- Sam Smith
CEO Mercy Ships
Hey Anna! So excited to have another peds nurse coming to join us. =) my background was PICU before I came, and I'm one of the assisstant ward supervisors who will be working with you when you get here.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge blog commenter, but I was stopped short when I saw you write "the perfect fast." I got a chill down my spine before I read any further, right over the place where my tatto reads "pour out thy soul." Which just happens to be one translaton of the "If you spend yourselves on behalf of..." part of verse 11 there, and is the exact verse that called me to missions. =)
Can't wait to meet you! Let me know if you have any questions before you come over, and I'd be more than happy to let you in on all our little quirks. alirae{at}quist{dot}ca !
How can I not be sad that you are travelling so far away?
ReplyDeleteHow can I not be delighted that you take such a meaningful journey?