The unfamiliar sound of cars brought her out of her hut when we were still far off. She stood outside as we drove past. With a hand motion out the window of the car, the pastors wife assured her we would stop on our way back. I imagine she spent the next few hours waiting and preparing for our visit. When we made our way back to her and entered her hut it was obvious she was excited for our visit. We spent a few minutes visiting. We thanked her for the orphans she has taken in to her home and presented her with some bags of food as a token of our gratitude. She tried to hide her disappointment as the pastor's wife asked her to share the food with others since we didn't have enough to go around...promising that more would come soon. We prayed for her, asking God to bless and protect her - to provide for her and her children. And then we said goodbye. She quietly sat down on her bed - our long awaited, special visit was over already. My heart broke as I watched her gently sit down with a wave goodbye. Most days she works hard and struggles to get by with few special moments. Our short visit and small gift didn't feel like enough. And it wasn't. The only reason our visit was good and helpful is because it was in the context of the local church. There
will be more food and more visits even though our team left. The pastors wife regularly visits the rural mountain community, spending time with the women and connecting their jewelry business to a larger community. The local church in that South African town is committed to being involved in that rural mountain community. They have hopes for a church and a school, business opportunities that will make life better for everyone. Our visit was part of a much larger context of local care.
I am very grateful for the time I had in South Africa. I am encouraged by what God is doing through the church. I am humbled and challenged by how much my brothers and sisters are doing with very little resources. And I am again reminded why I am excited about World Orphans. Apart from partnering with local churches, Western influence (yes, even biblical, Christ-focused influence) is too isolated. But a World Orphans partnership that connects a church in the west with a church in the developing world for a
long-term relationship isn't isolated, it's in context. We as westerns get to see and be a part of what God is doing around the world...but to people that we meet it's not just a random moment and then we are gone. Meeting people as we travel is a moment when we get to point to the local church that is not going anywhere. Praying, distributing food, giving gifts to children, thanking people caring for orphans, sharing the Gospel...it's all in the context of the life and ministry of the local church - day-in and day-out.
So I am grateful for the 10 days trips. I am grateful to be a part of mobilizing the western church - allowing people to see what life is like outside America and how alive and passionate followers of Christ are all over the world. And I am challenged. The reason a 10 day trip makes sense is because it's in the context of the day-in and day-out ministry of the local church.
What about the day-in and day-out here in America? While there may not be entire communities living without electricity and running water and the streets aren't filled with AIDS orphans...who are the lonely, hurting, tired, hungry people in your day-in and day-out that you can consistently reflect the love of Christ to?
