Beauty from ashes

Friday was a really full, stretching, rich day. After breakfast, we loaded the vans to drive to Living Room Kimbilio hospice, a beautiful place nestled in a garden by the river where heaven meets earth. Joy and pain mingle together in a profound way.

Deanna one of our team members went to help the Living Room cooks prepare food for the guests. Chloe shadowed the teacher Jacob, a former Living Room guest, who has been brought back to life and now is the teacher for children who are staying there. She was able to watch him instruct a little boy whose mind is incredibly sharp, even though his body is mostly paralyzed.

Joshua, Titus, Daniel, and I joined the guests who were brought outside and their wheelchairs and beds under the canopy of trees, and we prayed for each one, singing worship songs over them, and believing that our God would be merciful. One woman with a maimed hand and a casted leg, just wanted to sing “Jesus loves me” over and over again We sensed the Holy Spirit in this place and saw Jesus’ beauty in the eyes of children suffering with cerebral palsy, men and women fighting cancer and other terminal diseases. And yet- peace.

We came back for a quick lunch and then drove to the slums in a town called Turbo where we walked into little tiny shanty houses, and met families living there. Each one welcomed us into their little home, which had couches ready for a visitors, though not much more. We heard their stories, encouraged them with scripture, and we prayed for each one.

Our highlight was meeting a very bright and articulate man, raised by a single mom who recently passed away a few years ago and was left with nothing. He got on a motorbike with his wife and drove to the slums, trusting the Lord to provide. And slowly by slowly he has! They have a few chickens and are finding small ways to earn money for their family. He has just applied for a passport to UK and has a dream to move there to begin a new life for his family. And he kept talking about how God will make a way where there seems to be no way and how he wants to provide a new life for his beautiful kids. We sang “God will make a way where there seems to be no way.” Oh Lord, have mercy and make a way.

As we were finishing the rain began to fall. People have been praying for rain for crops as it’s been a bit dry- so it felt like God was answering. Needless to say, there were many tears yesterday as we encountered the weight and reality of poverty, sickness, and yet the hope that our God offers in the middle of it all.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. This has been a life changing experience and we’re so grateful to know there are so many of you supporting us. Sending our love.