James 1:27 in action!

Saturday 8/15 was like James 1:27 in action! We had a big feeding for the orphans (we didn’t do the cooking) in Musana – sudsa, beans and veggies (I don’t know what they are called in Zim…they are called skuma in Kenya).

The widows group also came and most of us hung around with them. Some of the ladies pulled out the cross necklaces left over from VBS and that was a huge hit! It was cute to see all of them with their colorful crosses around their necks! They were such awesome women, full of life! I love the way African women greet each other….they give each other a kind of handslap that actually stings a little for those of us with non-callused hands, and throw each other around a bit. They greet me the same way sometimes and I am literally lifted off the ground…which they think is really funny! They laugh and talk about me which I can’t understand of course!
At the end of the day we handed out undies and candy to the orphans and seeds to the women.


Sunday started off going to Musana for church service. It was a typical crazy and amazing African service. We all loved it and were sad to go when we had to rush out to the next place. We sang a coupld of songs for them – one in English and one in Shona. They loved it! It really felt like we were pary of their community! We did hear sad news that after we left, a fight broke out over something someone gave as a gift. It was a good lesson that “stuff” isn’t always the answer and that they are still human. We like to see their resilient faith despite hard circumstances, but when it comes down to it, we all struggle with some of the same issues. It was sobering to hear that news as we headed out of the country…but last we heard the situation was talked over and resolved. Hopefully it doesn’t hurt any ministry there in the long run!
Before we left, Emmanuel and Betty told us the story of how ministry in Musana started. Bettys parents lived in the area and it had previously been known as a dark and dangerous place. One night, Bettys parents were robbed and beaten….her Mother lived but her Father died a few days later from his injuries. They did find the men responsible but also decided that they wanted to bring light to this dark region. In the time they have been doing ministry there, there has been a radical change! What a great picture of forgiveness and restoration! It was a great story to soften the news of the fight….God can restore any situation!