"It does seem strange that such unnumbered multitudes should bloom in the wild places of the earth where perhaps nobody ever sees them and the goats and cattle can walk over them and crush them to death. They have so much beauty and sweetness to give..."
-Hinds Feet in High Places
*several weeks ago I had the privilege of sharing my testimony at a small church about 45 minutes outside of Nuzvid, the following are some swirling thoughts encompassing that experience*
BROKENNESS.
Often I find myself overwhelmed at the poverty here-- I've encountered gripping scenes of homelessness in Chicago and various cities, but nothing compared to what surrounds me here. Even homes that are supposedly "nice" have next to nothing. Grass-roofed homes with one room, maybe a bed frame with an old, dirty mattress. Stained linens. Little to no electricity. These people are the poorest of the poor, yet here they sit, joyfully singing, attending church with contented, beaming smiles on their faces. Puts American Christianity to utter shame... myself included.
Syam and Melody asked me to share a brief testimony at the church, but as we drove through the ravaged land, passing mud huts and countless canvas tents and pulled up to a half-finished white cement slab, the only thing I could think was, how can I possibly share? What do I have to say that will possibly encourage these people?
The thing is, these people, I feel, know him in far deeper ways than I do. They should be the ones sharing their testimonies with me. In American churches, we may look like we have "everything"-- air conditioning. Awesome bands. Nice coffee shops. Yet, we are the ones with little. These people have seemingly "nothing," but they are the ones that truly have it all. Their reverence, humility, and genuine faith inspires and challenges my own. They know Jesus because he is literally, everything.
"Then the Lord said to him, 'You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy- full of greed and wickedness! Fools! Didn't God make the inside as well as the outside? So clean the inside..." Luke 11:39-40
-Hinds Feet in High Places
*several weeks ago I had the privilege of sharing my testimony at a small church about 45 minutes outside of Nuzvid, the following are some swirling thoughts encompassing that experience*
BROKENNESS.
Often I find myself overwhelmed at the poverty here-- I've encountered gripping scenes of homelessness in Chicago and various cities, but nothing compared to what surrounds me here. Even homes that are supposedly "nice" have next to nothing. Grass-roofed homes with one room, maybe a bed frame with an old, dirty mattress. Stained linens. Little to no electricity. These people are the poorest of the poor, yet here they sit, joyfully singing, attending church with contented, beaming smiles on their faces. Puts American Christianity to utter shame... myself included.
Syam and Melody asked me to share a brief testimony at the church, but as we drove through the ravaged land, passing mud huts and countless canvas tents and pulled up to a half-finished white cement slab, the only thing I could think was, how can I possibly share? What do I have to say that will possibly encourage these people?
The thing is, these people, I feel, know him in far deeper ways than I do. They should be the ones sharing their testimonies with me. In American churches, we may look like we have "everything"-- air conditioning. Awesome bands. Nice coffee shops. Yet, we are the ones with little. These people have seemingly "nothing," but they are the ones that truly have it all. Their reverence, humility, and genuine faith inspires and challenges my own. They know Jesus because he is literally, everything.
"Then the Lord said to him, 'You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy- full of greed and wickedness! Fools! Didn't God make the inside as well as the outside? So clean the inside..." Luke 11:39-40
i love this and the heart it came from, lish. we have so much to strive for...
ReplyDeleteThank you, I need to hear this today. It sound like you are right where you need to be right now. I wish I could have gotten to know you better. Send me your address, and I would like to mail you a few items, that you may need.
ReplyDeleteKelly McGreevy
I´m half way through reading ¨When Helping Hurts.¨ I think you would enjoy this book. It talks about how while some of us humans are materially poor others have other sorts of deeper poverty. Some have poverty of spirit. Some have poverty of opportunity. There are many causes and roots. We are all poor in different ways. The author defines poverty relationally: stating that it is the manifestation of our broken down relationships with God, ourselves, others and creation.
ReplyDeleteHey! This blog has been a continual inspiration to me. I enjoy reading ever word about all the things you are doing. Today, especially, your words have been an encouragement to me and my walk. Thank you. My prayers are with you and all of the people you encounter.
ReplyDeleteKelly- address is:
ReplyDeleteSyam Bandi
Bethesda Garden
Nuzvid 521-201
Andhra Pradesh, India
attn: Alisha Chocholous
cristina- I downloaded that book. thanks for the recommend. my facebook comment listed the wrong book, but that was another one I also downloaded. too much info on the brain. :)
sawyers- glad to encourage!! your prayers mean the very most. keep at it! love you sister.