We sent Gary to Las Vegas last week to visit the Call in Las Vegas to explore possible partnerships with the World Race. The trip meant a lot to Gary on several levels, but his story of homecoming breaks my heart. From Gary Black:
Coming home from
America back to
Swaziland this week
was like getting run over by a truck! The jet lag seems more then usual as I
just can’t seem to get back to normal… but, walking into our weekly staff
meeting today just pushed me over the edge.
We opened with prayer and I began to
share about my incredible trip to the States and the time I had at the Call Las
Vegas (see Calling the Youth of America to Their Destiny) and with my family and friends back in
Colorado. I shared
about the miracles, the people, and how God is moving on the youth of
America. I was
upbeat and excited.
We then asked Becca to share. Becca
heads up our high school ministry here and takes Alexis with here often to hold
bible studies, drama’s and special events for the high
school girls here in Swazi.
She shared how last week many of her girls dropped
out of school because they were pregnant from their teachers, family members and
others, (the young girls here many times cannot pay for their school fees, so
the teachers trade the fees for sex), 13 year old girls, out of school, infected
with HIV and the reality of children raising children continued. Becca wept as
she tried to hold a graduation for the girls to make them feel better, but their
families couldn’t afford 75 cents for the hats so they didn’t want to have the party.
Colin, another staff member, began
to share how one of our “kitchens” blew over from the wind last week right on
top of one of our go -go’s (grandma’s) that feeds a couple hundred children a
day. We didn’t have the money right now to rebuild the kitchen, which is a wood
covering, so Ruby was cooking for the kids out in the rain and wind. On top of
that she has to store the food about 1k away and walks back and forth to make
sure these fatherless children have something to eat once each day…
The staff shared stories of kids
starving to death, getting attacked, raped, and how two of our missionaries had
been stabbed and robbed a little ways from one of our care points, all last
week!
It was a slap in the face and a slap
back into reality! I watched thousands of young people make commitments to God
last week in America, and I
wonder, do they really know what is going on around the world, do they really know the price that must be paid?
Part of living radically involves recognizing just how privileged we are here in America. Please pray for the missionaries and their families you know – they depend on it!
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My comment is primarily directed toward the last paragraph of Gary’s letter.
My oldest daughter is 20. When she was 16 she went on an AIM trip to Romania. Because of that “adventure” God captured her heart for missions. Later she joined Aaron and Michelle Lawson in Mexico for 6 months. Michelle was her group’s leader in Romania. Currently she resides in Guatemala City. She earns a small salary working for a US based adoptionrelief organization. Her passion, however, is ministry. Most of her free time is spent among the most poor and hopeless in the most dangerous parts of the city. During the summer she leads short-term mission teams in such places. She has been robbed at gun point. She has seen converted gang members brutally killed for leaving the gang.
Do American young adults understand “the price” spoken of in Gary’s letter? I have no idea of what the statistics are but some realize what “the price” is. I think the realization of “the price” is a process. I think we would agree that the first payment is surrender to the agenda of another. For my daughter abandoning the empty promises of North American culture was part of the process. At some point she understood that “the price” may very well include her life. Be encouraged Gary, some will “get it.”
One last thing. It seems to me that God doesn’t “need” you or your team in Africa. He doesn’t “need” us but it pleases him to use us as he delivers his kingdom to the world. I’ve heard tales of wonder of what God is doing in the slums of Guatemala City. I’m certain your stories of God’s work in Africa are equally captivating. I don’t think (my opinion) that what God accomplishes through us is really the most important thing. I think God uses us wherever he plants us not because he needs us somewhere. I believe God uses us (as he accomplishes his agenda) because it changes us into people who look like Jesus. God will accomplish great things in Africa through you and the team but realize that he will also accomplish a great work in you! Be relieved Gary, nothing depends on you.
Caleb
Powerful testimony here, Caleb. Thank you for sharing. We need to link up with your daughter in Guatemala.