The Living Eucharist

I was asked earlier this week to give the "mini-sermon" before Communion today at church, and I immediately knew what I would talk about! I love it when God just places something in you head or heart, and it all fits together! I've been reading a couple books lately by Rob Bell..."Velvet Elvis" and "Jesus Wants to Save Christians." Both excellent books, and easy reads, but not about easy stuff. They are both thought-provoking and challenging, and he really lays it all out there for us. I appreciate his honesty and simple words he uses to describe Jesus and what He did, and what our response should be.

Back to today...I had just finished reading a chapter in the latter book, and it was all about the Eucharist. I never knew that Eucharist was the Greek word for thankful. And if you break it down even more....charizomai means "to grant or give", and eu means "well or good." Jesus is God's good gift to the world. He gave us His body, broken and poured out. Then I started thinking more about that word, Eucharist and thinking of it in terms of "the good gift." Too often, I feel like taking Communion is a ritualistic thing, or it can be. We take Communion here every Sunday. So it can easily become a ritual....we know after we finish singing the last worship song, we get up and take Communion. But it should be more than just a ritual. It should be a way of life. Jesus is not here in human form anymore. But I feel like what He is reminding us everytime we take his body and drink his blood, is that WE must now be broken and poured out for others; for the world. We are the living Eucharist. The living good gift to the world. And WE means the Church. Bell says the Eucharist is ultimately about what we do when we leave the church building; what we do in the flow of everyday life.

2 Corinthians 4:10-12 reads, "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you."

I really like the idea that WE are the Eucharist. WE must be the ones who leave the building and are broken and poured out in our communities. Our joy is to be this Eucharist...to live out every blessing we've received, whatever resources, talents, skills, and passions God has given us, to make the world a better place. I love this quote from Bell, "The Eucharist is about people with the power empowering the powerless to make a better life for themselves."

When Jesus says, "Do this in rememberance of me," maybe the "do this" part is about more than just drinking and eating. The "do this" part is about our lives. Allowing ourselves to be broken and poured out, as the living Eucharist. That's what we can do in rememberance of Him.

Christ has no body on earth but yours,
no hands, but yours,
no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion
for the world is to look out;
Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good
And yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.

~Saint Teresa of Avila

God Knows

Thoughts from Chip Ingram's book, "God As He Longs For You To See Him."

"When we say God is sovereign, we declare that by virtue of His creatorship over all life and reality, His all-knowing, all-powerful, and benevolent rule, that He is in fact the Lord of all lords, King of kings, and in absolute control of time and eternity. Nothing will come into my life today that He did not either allow or decree for my ultimate good."

"God is doing things that you don't understand, things that are deeper and better and more wonderful than you imagined, but you must believe! Refuse to worry. You can stop trying to manipulate situations and trying to figure out how to make them work out because you know Who is in control. You can rest in His sovereign goodness."

Amen

It seems like I hum a different hymn each week! I'm starting to think God is speaking to me through these hymns. This week it was, "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing." I especially like the third stanza.

"O to grace how great a debtor
daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O, take and seal it,
seal it for thy courts above."

One of those weeks!

This week was one of those crazy, unpredictable, emotional, overwhelming, beautiful weeks! My students are crazy just like students in America this time of year....or anywhere for that matter! They know schools about to be out, and so do I! And of course I'm trying to pack too many projects and fun activities into these last few weeks, on top of dreaded standardized tests. (Yes, we have to take those here too! But only for a couple days so I'm trying not to complain.) So they made it a crazy and overwhelming week!

And others made it beautful and unpredictable. Last week I had a chance meeting in town with one of the most interesting guys I've ever met. But I don't think anything happens by chance. Tristan Miller, from way across the water in Melbourne, Australia, was in town to run in the International Peace Marathon. (By the way, no, I sadly did not run in it as I had previously planned, due to many circumstances. But I have no regrets! There's always next year!) But Tristan was here and there and everywhere this year, attempting to accomplish an amazing feat (or amazingly crazy feat) of running 52 marathons in 52 weeks! It was such a fun time hearing stories from this guy who had just run a race on top of the Great Wall of China two days earlier, and was getting ready to fly to Hungary via Dubai and London to run his next race. He began his first race on January 1 in Zurich, Switzerland, and he ends this adventure on December 31, in his hometown of Melbourne. And why is he doing this? Because he got tired of being in the rat race with his cushy job at Google, and he wanted to do something BIG, something bigger than he had ever done before. So he sold everything, and is using his life savings this year to fund this mission. He's also raising money for Unicef through his website, http://www.runlikecrazy.com/. Tristan was able to come talk to my kids and give them an talk about being a part of something bigger than yourself, and stretching and pushing yourself to acheive goals. My kids loved him. Here he is signing autographs! :-)

But the neatest thing about this whole Spirit-filled encounter was the time we spent sharing stories, and hearing how he has experienced and seen the face of God during his journeys thus far. He opened up that he thought he was an atheist, but he's been doing so much seeking and searching lately, and he's been surprised at what he's found! He thought he was doing this pretty cool thing, but he never imagined how big it really was, and the effects it would have on him. We talked about the human spirit, and the Holy Spirit, and what it was like to experience both all over the world. We talked about the body God gave him to run, and how God is using him and his body this year to do something even bigger than he imagines! It was so exciting for me to see God opening the eyes of one of his children right there in front of me. And we met in Rwanda, and shared some Chinese food and lots of goat, and many, many stories. And God's hand is in it all. I believe we are all a part of something much greater than even we realize now! Just like my new Aussie friend, our stories are not complete! I find it hard to believe I'm merely here in Rwanda to teach some subjects in 4th grade. Just like I find it hard to believe Tristan is running all over the world to raise some money for Unicef, or to have the adventure of a lifetime. Whats so neat is that through listening to him, I can see God revealing Himself! I can see the light coming on, as this young man continues to put one foot in front of the next and continue his journey. I know God has Tristan on a greater journey! I always feel like God is far more interested in working in us, than working through us. And I know he's working in this great runner even as we speak! Pray for him , as he continues to attempt this marvelous feat, and as he continues to explore and experience God along the way. Pray that he will meet more individuals who are lovers of Jesus and lovers of sinners too. Father, bless Tristan, Run this race with him. I know you are already one step ahead of him even now, going before him.

Meeting and talking to him and others this week have made me realize again that God is always present. We are the ones who show up. The whole earth is filled with the wonder and significance of God. He is everywhere and in all things as we speak. Our mighty God is in control of ALL things, and He's doing things that we don't even understand right now! But they are wonderful, beautiful things. Jesus, you are worthy! I love the Jesus that I see in so many people; the Jesus that I've experienced this year in real ways, in real faces. These encounters have made me test and ask questions though....like is it possible to see Jesus in people who don't know Jesus personally, who haven't been enlightened like I have? Is it possible to see the Holy Spirit in those people? Is the human spirit the same as the Holy Spirit working inside humans? Is every experience of love an experience of God? Is every experience of God an experience of love? I think so. I think God is everywhere, so vast, even bigger than the Christian faith. He is the truth. He is true, beautiful, honorable and right. And so I am free to claim the truth whereever and whenever I find it.....even if it shows up in strange places, I reckon.

Sorry...I got off on a tangent there! :-) I get excited! Another wonderful, yet emotional occurence this week happened on Wednesday. One of my moms, Kristen, came to school and told me that she just saw one of my sweet little girls from the orphanage at Bourbon cafe with her newly adopted family! It was the first ever time precious 3 year old Nozieta had ever been outside the walls of the orphanage! I've been visiting the Sisters of Charity orphanage here twice a week since September and this special little girl quickly became my friend. She taught me how to sing "God is so Good" in Kinyarwanda, and I taught her how to sing it in English. I wish I had a picture to show all of you just how precious she is, but they don't allow any photos to be taken there. She has gorgeous light-brown skin, and puffy red lips, with a twinkle in her eye. She is fiercely independent and stubborn, and funny as all! I love her so much! When I heard she was being adopted, immediately I felt a twinge of sadness that I wouldn't experience her joy anymore, but then I stopped being selfish and praised God for this! Nozieta's life is about to change completely! She is one of the lucky ones that will grow up in a loving, home with so many luxuries. Her adoptive parents are from the States! I'm going to visit her tomorrow at the orphanage one last time. She flies to America next week! Oh! How I wish I could accompany her, and watch her big brown eyes take everything in at once. And continue to sing with her and love her. But I praise Him that she has a family! Please continue to pray for this sweet little girl, as she's about to experience something so wonderful, yet scary too! Pray that her transition is smooth, and she bonds quickly and continues to be filled with so much light and joy in her new home!

Thanks for letting me pour some of my heart out tonight. It feels really full.

Brewing an Antidote to Poverty

Wanted to share a good article about coffee, from the founder of Starbucks. Our friends, Chris and Taya Jordan, are mentioned in it. Sadly, they just moved from Kigali to Ethiopia to help spur Technoserve's progress there. But they'll be coming to Kigali often. Technoserve is a great coffee initiative here in Rwanda, sponsored by the Gates Foundation to help development in East Africa. It's kind of crazy all the things I've learned about coffee this year. And I don't even drink it! :-)

http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive/2010/05/brewing-an-antidote-to-poverty-coffee/57212/

Fun Friday

I had such a different and fun Friday yesterday, that I just had to share! Ok, for most of you, it won't sound like fun, because it's just pretty normal, everyday things....but for me, it was waay different and fun! So yesterday I ate steak and potatoes, REAL Ritz crackers and REAL Cheez-Its from America, and even Girl Scout Thin mint cookies! I swam in REAL swimming pool, and there was Taylor Swift music playing in the background. haha! And I ate dinner with a group of folks from South Carolina and Arkansas who had accents 'bout as thick as mine! :-) They're workers from Bridge 2 Rwanda and Rwanda Trading Company (coffee) who are over here this week from the States checking up on things. It was fun getting a "taste" of America again, and really made me anticipate being home this summer!

Life-changing moments

Life-changing moments. We've all had them. Think about some of those moments right now. Those days when something happened that changed everything! Some are greater than others. And some not so great when we got older and realized whatever it was wasn't so life-changing after all. Some make us feel estatic, others rock us in a bad way. But at that moment, for that day, they are monumental.

Our housegirl/dayguard, Germaine, had one of those days today. And I don't know whether she felt estatic, or rocked to the core...but I imagine it was a little of both, and a lot of in-between. Germaine is in her early 20's, and has an older sister, Emerithe, who is the housegirl for our friends, the Magruders. (I'll explain the term "housegirl" later. It's kind of like a maid, but not really. It's kind of strange to have someone do things for you, but it's a part of the culture that is expected of you and other Rwandans as well. And it's pertinent to have someone at your house when you aren't there. But basically, it's a way of providing jobs for the locals.)

Anyway, Germaine came early this morning and let me know she couldn't stay. There was a family emergency. I immediately thought something must have happened to Emerithe, as she is Germaine's only family. Her father, mother, other sister, and brother were all killed during the genocide 16 years ago. But Germaine didn't say anything more this morning....just left in a hurry. She doesn't know a lot of English, and also Rwandans are very, very private and it takes a lot for them to trust and open up, so it wasn't unusual for her not to explain.

I found out later through Mrs. Magruder and Emerithe that today, May 17, 2010...a full 16 years after the unthinkable genocide that killed one million Rwandans....the government contacted these two sisters and let them know they had discovered the remains of their family members in a latrine, upcountry in a tiny village near their old homestead. And they could come collect the remains.

I know, it sounds crazy. Yes, the government is STILL finding and locating remains and contacting family members. All this time, these two sisters had no idea where the bones of their mom, dad, sister and brother were. Yesterday they didn't know. Today they know! How do you react to that news? I was trying all day to put myself in her shoes. What do you do or say? How do you feel? Do you feel? What do you feel? I can only imagine.

Germaine and Emerithe packed a small bag of their belongings and left on a bus to Gitarama today to collect their family's remains, and now begin preparing for a proper burial for them. 16 years later! I know you might be thinking, why did it take this long? I don't know. There are many different reasons. The government could have been waiting for the criminals to be prosecuted through the gacaca village court system. Or the latrine could have been on property of a stranger, possibly a Hutu, who didn't allow the government or anyone to go and retrieve them. But what we are suspecting and hearing is that they did not even know where this latrine was or even that their family's remains were discovered there.

I don't know what Germaine is thinking or feeling right now. But please join in praying for these two young sisters, for their strength and closure at this difficult time.

On a totally seperate note, I have another prayer request that I would like to offer up, if you could join me....there's a young couple here, Phil and Becca, who are missionaries and they just recently adopted a precious Rwandan baby. Just 3 weeks ago, Phil and Becca traveled back to the U.S. to attend her brother's wedding and introduce the baby to their families. After being back one week, Becca has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and now they will remain in the States indefinitely. It's such a bittersweet time for them, as they are so excited about their new additon, and also scared about what the future holds. Their faith is very strong and they know that nothing happens by chance. Please join me in lifting us this young family as they are experiencing a time of unknown.

Thanks for all your prayers! I love you all!

Carwash

Carwash is a landmark here in Kigali...kind of like What-a-Burger is back home. It's definitely worthy enough to blog about. Carwash is a very unique, seedy little meat joint that has the BEST tasting pork and goat brochettes in town! When I need some cheap protein, I head here! So why is it called Carwash? Because in addition to being a restaurant and bar, it's a fully fledged carwash....AND you can rent videos here AND get a massage AND get your nails done, AND buy groceries! All in the same place! Like I said, it's very unique, and hilarious! The plastic tables are set out in an open parking lot, and you can watch the butcher chop up your meat and grill it up for you. You better go early because it takes a good hour and a half for the food to come (if it's a good night), but it's worth it! While you're waiting, you can listen to the very loud thumping 80's music or Kenyan rap music in the background. (The owner is Kenyan.) OR...you can get your car washed! (if you have a car.) I can say that I have ONLY eaten here, and most probably will continue to ONLY eat in the future. Everything else is just a tad bit sketchy, but the meat keeps me coming back. They serve a huge plate of freshly cooked meat, with mokimo (mashed potatoes and peas mixed together..it's delicious!), and kachumbari, which is tomatoes and onions mixed with vinegar and lemon juice. You always leave Carwash with a full stomach! (and perhaps a clean vehicle as well!) Sadly, I don't have a picture of Carwash yet, as it is always dark when we go here. I'll try to take one soon!

A great moment!

I just had one of those great teacher moments that will stay with me forever. And it wasn't really a "teacher" moment...just a moment where I realized God shows up in unlikely places, in unlikely ways and surprises you! One of those moments where you just thank God for how cool and awesome He is. It's progress report time and we're having parent conferences today and tomorrow. I just had my last conference today, and I couldn't have ended the school day on a better note. This conference was with a parent of one of the newer students, from the Dominican, who was very withdrawn when he arrived and sullen, and didn't play well with others. ha! But in the last month, I've seen a great change in this kid...he tries, he wants to do well in school, he's self-controlled in four-square games now. But the biggest difference is written all over his face. I see joy in him, a huge smile every day! That's something I didn't see before.


Anyway, back to today's conference. His mom came in, a strikingly beautiful ex-runway model and volleyball coach from the Dominican. When she came in today, I noticed something different about her countenance as well. We sat down and did the usual talk about each grade for each subject. Then she stopped me and said, "What are you teaching Alex in Bible? Tell me more about it." She speaks with a thick Spanish accent, so I had her say it again. Then she told me that everyday Alex was coming home teaching her all about what he learned in Bible and about Jesus, and he was so excited about it. She said that she's never owned a Bible in her life, but that she and her husband had started reading Alex's Bible each night because they wanted to know more. We talked and she asked me many questions about God and Jesus and said she couldn't wait to find out more. She had tears in her eyes and thanked me for bringing Jesus into their home.

It was one of those surreal, goose-bumps moments where all you can do is just thank and praise Him! And to think...I never thought this kid was paying attention! I'm just so humbled that God has used me in this situation. Please continue to pray for Alex and his family, that he can continue shining his light at home! God is good! Keep planting seeds ya'll...you never know when and where they will grow!

Wonder

"I asked for wonder...and He gave it to me."

A prayer from Brenan Manning's book, Ragamuffin Gospel...

"Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of Your universe....each day enrapture me with Your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all."

Grant me wonder, Lord...

Hard Questions

As you can see by all of the smiling faces, I had a wonderful time reconnecting with my girls in Mombasa over Easter break. They are all so precious to me, and we spent a good long while catching up underneath the mango tree. I was anxious as to who would be there and who I wouldn't see because a "social worker" had taken them back upcountry. I didn't see Lucky. Lucky is a now 11-year-old girl who was brought to Wema off the streets when I was there in 2006. She had run away from home after being subject to much abuse from her stepfather. I remember her first days at Wema, so scared, and scarred; not trusting anyone, wanting no one to touch her. And I also remember seeing her emerge from that scared, protective layer she wore and learn how to jumprope and blow bubbles with the other girls. I was blessed to watch as Lucky learned how to be a child for the first time. It was beautiful! But when the government changed the laws back in December, and Lucky's mother who claims to be sober came to the Wema gate, they had to entrust Lucky back into the hands of this mother. Now, I understand this is a complicated situation. I do think that often times reuniting a child back with his/her rightful parents is an honorable thing and possibly the best thing. But it's still such a hard question, and one that I can't seem to reconcile with this particular situation. Apparently Lucky cried and fought and hung onto the guards because she didn't want to leave. But she didn't have a choice. I don't know if this was the right thing or not. I just know how scared she must have been that everything would happen again. And I asked a housemother, how can we know that the same thing won't happen to Lucky again? And the fact is, we cannot know. There's no system to figure that out here. And who will suffer again if it does happen again? The child will suffer. And there will be no justice. And that infuriates me. Now, I pray and hope that the mother is really sober and the stepfather is not in the picture and Lucky will be taken to school, and she will have enough food to eat at night. But we won't know. And I don't like not knowing these things.

I also had the privilege of spending time with Sandra and I wanted to update you about her situation, as I know many of you have told me you have been praying for her! She has secured a job at a hotel and is living with her sister, Catherine, in a one room house in Mombasa. She is trying to earn enough to help pay back the hospital, so that her aunt and uncle can keep the title to the small plot of land that they owe. She is grateful for you for your monetary gifts you have given, but especially for your prayers for her healing spiritually and emotionally, and physcially still as well. I see so much dignity and beauty in this young lady, and I know she will be just fine. But still, the questions remain. What if this awful thing happens to her again? What if she loses her job? What if the hospital bill never gets resolved and the land is taken away? I don't have those answers. I don't think she does either. So I guess faith is what we choose to stand on, what we must stand on.

And I want to tell you about Keziah, a dear friend who left Wema when I was there, and now has two small children to care for. She went to school with my friend, Paul, and she is my age! Yet when I look at Paul, and look at her, I see such a difference. He is healthy and strong and vibrant. She has an emptiness in her eyes and her soul. And she has AIDS. Keziah's husband infected her with the disease and then left her when she went to a VCT clinic and discovered her status. He has never gone for testing, and is seen in the town with many other women. One of Keziah's children, her son, Christian, is also HIV+ and he was born blind as well. As I spent time with Keziah and her children and we "hung out" and laughed and prayed and cried...I had so many of those hard questions in my head. Every time I see the face and the eyes of AIDS, I have the same questions lingering in my head....Lord, you are a God of justice. So why does this 29 year old mother of two have AIDS and not me? She didn't deserve this disease. She only wanted a family and to provide for them. Lord, what will happen to her and to Christian? And to her lovely daughter who doesn't have this horrible disease? Does she feel special at all? Does she ever feel beautiful? I don't want to fall into the terrible trap of just feeling sorry for her and so many others in this situation. Let me not take her dignity away by judging her or her situation. I just have to pray...Lord, send others into Keziah's life to uplift her, who can minister to her needs. Lord, let her feel loved and feel beautiful today when she lays her head on her pillow at night. Let her feel your love and protection. Lord, help us everywhere, to open our eyes to people and see them just as you see them. Rob Bell says, "When I respect the image of God in others, I protect the image of God in me." Did you know that $48 buys Keziah and her family enough food, medecine and supplies for about 5-6 months? Yep, I know it's hard to believe. I couldn't believe it either, at first! But it's true. They can eat, wash clothes, wash their body, take their meds for 6 months for only $48. And rent would be about $80 more. I kept thinking about all the things I've done with $48 before...bought concert tickets, dinner and alcohol, shoes, clothes, gas.....I'm just rambling here. I don't think we need to feel guilty because she is in this condition and we're not. But do we even know how much we are blessed? And how privileged we are? Just by growing up in America, and being white, at that, I am privileged. And thus, I can't be ignorant. I have a responsibilty. We have a responsibilty as the body of Christ. It seems so simple to me. Some people have. Some people don't have. If those who have, could just help one person who doesn't have, then we would all have. Simple, right? A favorite quote of mine is, "God gave the world riches, but he left it up to us to divy up the loot." And I know some of you who are thinking in terms of the economy and Wall St. and all that....that this is just too simple and it wouldn't work cause we need rich people to spend lots of money on frivilous things so money can be circulated and jobs can be created. But I don't think that we're gonna care about all those things in the end. We are just passing through here, on the way to our real home. Anyway...I had a wonderful time being with all these lovely ladies and seeing Jesus shine through, in all of their faces and souls. Even with all the hard questions, I do have faith and that gives birth to a calm waiting, a waiting of God's ultimate promise to all of his children.

"Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves...Don't search for answers, which could not be given to you now, because you could not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, some day in the future, you will without even noticing it, live your way into the answer." ~Ranier Maria Rilke

Even more Smiles from Wema :-)

More Smiles from Wema :-)