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Margaret
August 14th, 2008. She was tiny, still, and alert in my arms. Her older brother Sam sobbed in the arms of one of the male staff, for the moment refusing to be consoled. The children were leaving their mother. The auto-rickshaw sputtered to life, and ushered us into the tumult of Chennai evening traffic. As powerful as it is to read or hear about needs of people, to see photos or videos of children living in poverty, being there in person is exponentially different (or so it felt).
Sam and Margaret looked like they were about 3 and 1, but small for their ages. I had met them only a minute before, and now I was helping transport them from their home in the slum to the Rescue and Restore shelter at which I was staying. I was to learn that they were not 3 and 1, as I guessed, but six- and three-years old. These two starving children were an unexpected addition to the Rescue and Restore (R&R) family that night. Their mother had just spoken with some of the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) staff, and asked them to take her children. She worked during the day, leaving the children to fend for themselves. I cannot even imagine the things they saw in the slum, but I know that sanitation is not to be had, sadness seems to lurk in the corners, and even very young girls face sexual abuse. Sam and Margaret were so hungry that they were eating mud—which in Chennai likely means mud mixed with sewage.
What were these two little ones now thinking, riding with strangers in the back of an auto? It is very possible they had seen other children sold into slavery by their own families. As I wrapped my arms around Margaret, attempting to shield her from the merciless noise of traffic, I prayed for the Lord’s comfort for these two. She was hot, and I was hot, but I couldn’t help but hold her close. As Sam wept and Margaret was still, I felt sobs rising in my own body. And yet, with almost tangible presence, I sensed Jesus there, as if He was sitting next me in the back of the auto, reminding me that He is come to “bind up the brokenhearted”. In the midst of the pain, He was there with much-needed love and peace.
That night, I witnessed a very dynamic answer to a prayer I had prayed only hours before—that God would help me to not get caught up in the dismalness of the unfamiliar surroundings, but that He would help me to see the people first, with His eyes and His heart. I think He knew that holding Margaret would have that very effect.
Three days later, I had the privilege to see the prayers I prayed during that long ride answered—that these two precious ones would feel safe and loved at R&R. On Sunday evening, Margaret was sitting in my lap, clapping along to the music of family prayer time; a short while later, Sam was playing with some of the boys and laughing, trying to talk his little sister into joining in the game. They were beginning to feel safe, and at home.
Highlights
What a joy to see what God has worked and is working in the lives of the big family at R&R! In the midst of this city of abundant needs, the shelter is truly a refuge of peace and belonging. Jesus’ light and hope is evident in the faces of the thirty children, in the care of the adult staff, and in the surrounding itself. The children range in ages from two-years-old to late teens, share in the work and play, and help look out for each other—especially the older for the younger. With a regular schedule of meals, school, games, chores, study, and family time, these children have the blessing that many in their city do not have—the opportunity to be children. I will not soon forget the joy with which they sing, “I’m trading my sorrows…I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.”
As a volunteer, I was told that the best thing I could do for the most part was just “be”, which can be a bit hard for a Westerner to get used to, but I found it a good way to get to know the children and the staff, to learn a lot, and to be able to pray often. (I did get to help out with chores around the shelter—although I don’t know how much help I was at first, having to adjust to different ways of braiding hair, sweeping, doing dishes, etc.!)
Aside from “just being” at R&R, getting to know the people there, I had the opportunity four times to go to a slum in Chennai where the YWAM staff minister on a regular basis through church services, prayer, offering practical and medical help, and working with the children. I met some of the people there, including siblings of some of the kids at R&R, played with children, and assisted in the beginnings of a new kindergarten/preschool. It was especially during ministry times in the slum that I was amazed at God’s goodness in providing not only what I needed as far as feeling at peace and at home, but also what the team needed and what was needed for supplies and food for the school. He is good.
Lessons Learned
I think that the biggest things that God taught me on this trip were actually things that I thought I already “knew”. God, though, has His amazing way of changing head knowledge into heart knowledge—He is such a great teacher!
Malachi 3:10 says “’Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse…and test me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.’” I sensed that this trip He was challenging me to test Him by trusting Him with my “whole” self. There have been many times along the way when I have hesitated to give God everything I had, and there have been times when I did not obey right away because I was not willing to give up my own comfort. One of the biggest things I feel that God showed me—first-hand—is that the rewards of obedience far outweigh any sacrifice, any pain of giving up my own comfort. In the words of a guest-speaker my second Sunday there: “Without any expectation of return, you must give yourself to God. ‘Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.’” I want to truly apply this, and to never again hesitate or balk when I know God is commanding, leading, or calling me.
God also gave me proof after proof of His provision. It truly amazed me to step out of an airport into a world so different from anything I had ever experienced, and yet find that I was at home there because HE is my home. It amazed me that I “happened” to be in Chennai with a gift from my home church to supplement the children’s food budget right when funds were needed for lunches at the new “Super Hero” kindergarten. It was also a very special surprise that there “happened” to be a guest speaker who gave the main points of his sermon in English(!) the Sunday that I and two other visitors joined the R&R family at their “all Tamil” church—not to mention that those main points tied right into God’s current lessons in my life. And though I wasn’t surprised by it, I was definitely thankful to my Father that He fulfilled in me throughout the trip this passage that I clung to even before I arrived: “…And such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God….” (2 Corinthians 3:4-6). He gives us everything we need!
As far as practical application for right away, God has given me some big things to pray about. Although I have prayed it before, I think I have never prayed it with as much fervor—that He would send more workers “into the field.” My time in India made very evident to me how great the need is. Related to that, He has me praying about going back, eventually long-term. One of the reasons I set out to take this trip in the first place was to try to determine the direction that God would have me go with the call on my heart to Tamil Nadu—whether it had to do with going there long term, or with supporting from home the work that is already going on. After this trip, I really think He is calling me to GO. The adventure continues!
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| Last night, getting ready for bed and talking to God about feeling spread reeeally thin, He reminded me about being able to "do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." I hadn't thought of this passage for a while. It helped put things in perspective, and I slept really well.
Driving to work this morning, I was listening to my usual morning radio station, and heard the announcer say, "Our 'verse of the day' today is.... (Guess what?)" God makes me smile.
...Thankfulness Mixed with Sorrow...
Right now I am very thankful for Christ and His word. I am also very thankful for the men and women who are putting their lives on the line for freedom from terrorist rule.... One of my students lost an older brother Sunday night. He was stationed in Iraq.... Their family is on my mind and heart a lot right now. I hate war. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.... And yet, I feel much more confident about my position (and what it is) on this particular one after listening to a sermon by Dr. D. James Kennedy last week. He is the first person I have heard who teaches very clearly from the Word on this issue. Check it out here: Is the War Justified? And as clichéd as it sounds, pray for our troops...and their families. | | |
| One tablespoon of cream cheese to be spread on a half-dozen bagels.
Open face.
 (I've been wanting to post this all afternoon-- it's corny, but descriptive.) | | |
| It was a beautiful morning for housework--foggy-rainy outside, nice and warm inside. I hit "play" on my I-tunes "housecleaning" playlist. With curlers in my hair, I merrily sprinkled baking soda over my carpet and futon before vacuuming (I read about it somewhere--it's nice to do every once in a while). I then heard in my head, "...and Amelia Bedelia dusted that furniture," and burst out laughing.
No, I haven't been "dressing turkeys" or "running over the tablecloth with an iron" lately. | | |
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