See mom at the airport was very significant for our family an in particular for Crystal as when we returned home 2 years ago from South Africa Crystal's parents were at our house to greet us. It was really one of the last times we saw dad when he was still pretty healthy and before treatment ramped up significantly. Crystal had mentioned to me a few times on the trip that she had hoped mom would be there at our house when we got home. Well mom, you stepped it up by being at the airport...thank you so much!
So now we start back into life here at home with the fresh memories of our friends in Africa, the wonderful people on the Hands team at Kechele an in South Africa at the Hub, the fantastic and selfless caseworkers in the communities that we visited, the amazing workers in the Service Centre, and of course the orphans and the widows that we had the opportunity to care for for 2 weeks.
For some folks they look at these short term missions trips with skeptical views. Some people look at these trips with questions like "what long term impact can a team of 12 have in a country 23 hours away and an ocean away, in only 2 weeks"? Well, I would like to relate a story that I have used with my staff at work on numerous occasions and one that Crystal was able to share at our debrief in Zambia before we left. There was a little boy who was walking up and down the beach and as he walked he would reach down to the sand, pick up a starfish and throw it into the ocean. You see, the tide was out and there were thousands of starfish on the beach that would shrivel up and die in the heat of the sun. An older gentleman came walking down the beach and could see this young boy in the distance and was confused as to what the boy was doing. The gentleman walked closer and could see him reaching down and tossing the starfish into the ocean. The gentleman thought he would give the youngster some elderly advice and so he spoke up. Young man, there are thousands upon thousands of starfish on the beach, and you are wasting your time throwing the individual starfish back into the ocean. There is no way you can save all of them. The young boy smiled, knelt down and picked up another starfish, and with joy in his heart tossed it into the ocean. He looked up at his elder and said, "I made a difference for that one!".
Well, we made a difference for that one! For careworkers like Jack, the 3 Mary's, Joyce, Angela, Amela, Edward, Boaz (teacher), and Jean. For kids like Exudah, Anna, John, Reuben, Frieda, Stephan, and so many others. In Matthew 25:34-40 it says:
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we se you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
Thank you so much for your prayers and your support of this trip. By partnering with us in whatever way you were able, you helped in throwing some starfish back into the ocean, one at a time. Thank you!
A couple last comments. Celine is doing well back in Zambia. We were able to Skype with her this morning at 7am our time (4pm in Zambia) and she was in her room and she looked good! A bunch of the folks at Kechele took her out for lunch yesterday for her birthday and she even got a few gifts (thanks to our friends there for making our little girls birthday special). Please keep praying for her and don't forget to follow her ongoing adventures in Africa at myjourneysinafrica.blogspot.ca.
With love and thankfulness,
Frank
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