Thoughts on the Form Trip (Part III)
A lot of our trip was spent spending time with children. Whether it was in a centre for disadvantaged children or up in a remote village in the mountains, there were always children to show Jesus' love to just by being there. I am actually quite good with children because I am relatively fun to be around and really enjoy playing. However, without being able to efficiently communicate with the kids, I initially found the experience to be a bit draining and seemingly ineffective.
This feeling became especially prominent when in the mountains. Here the kids seemed a lot more boisterous. It was especially hard to connect with the boys. I remember Jon Guest reflecting that they didn't seem to know how to relate with older men hanging out and playing with them. In hindsight, that's quite cool because we got to show them love that they would not usually receive. However, at the time it was a challenge and I really struggled to connect with them. I remember feeling a bit useless and wondering what to do so I started praying "God, I'm struggling. I want to show your love to people but it's hard because I cannot just have a conversation with them and therefore I'm struggling to connect."
We need to get this - love moves outside of language barriers. It is so much more deeper, wider and longer than any barriers that may stand against it! It was shortly after I prayed that prayer, in that exhausted state, that I saw love move. With hotchpotch French, I communicated with a little boy who started telling me people's names and how many children had that name. "Deux Hassan". "Trois Ottomin". I would learn the name and then get that person's attention and wave to them. Then I started pointing out members of our team and telling him their names. It was very basic French but there was a deep connection reflected by the little boy's smile on his face. Others came and joined us. We had some great laughs (especially when discovering when one of the older boys fancied Teresia! Hilarious! He went bright red, everyone was laughing!) It was just great. Love flowed freely! At the point where it was hard, I saw God come through. I knew I couldn't do it myself. But I am realising more and more often that he always can!
All praise be to God!
This feeling became especially prominent when in the mountains. Here the kids seemed a lot more boisterous. It was especially hard to connect with the boys. I remember Jon Guest reflecting that they didn't seem to know how to relate with older men hanging out and playing with them. In hindsight, that's quite cool because we got to show them love that they would not usually receive. However, at the time it was a challenge and I really struggled to connect with them. I remember feeling a bit useless and wondering what to do so I started praying "God, I'm struggling. I want to show your love to people but it's hard because I cannot just have a conversation with them and therefore I'm struggling to connect."
We need to get this - love moves outside of language barriers. It is so much more deeper, wider and longer than any barriers that may stand against it! It was shortly after I prayed that prayer, in that exhausted state, that I saw love move. With hotchpotch French, I communicated with a little boy who started telling me people's names and how many children had that name. "Deux Hassan". "Trois Ottomin". I would learn the name and then get that person's attention and wave to them. Then I started pointing out members of our team and telling him their names. It was very basic French but there was a deep connection reflected by the little boy's smile on his face. Others came and joined us. We had some great laughs (especially when discovering when one of the older boys fancied Teresia! Hilarious! He went bright red, everyone was laughing!) It was just great. Love flowed freely! At the point where it was hard, I saw God come through. I knew I couldn't do it myself. But I am realising more and more often that he always can!
All praise be to God!