I had the extraordinary experience/privilege of working with children in Sierra Leone, Africa, this past spring. Traveling with some of the most amazing people I could have ever dreamt of. Hard working, fun, dedicated, lovers of God. All called or sent to do His work in a much forgotten place. A place of beautiful people, all just trying to survive this life, care for their families, make a difference. Just like us. I know that we often question God and wonder why things are the way they are. It's hard not to when you see some of the deplorable living conditions of these sweet faces. We KNOW God can do all things, we KNOW He is a God of love & mercy. Then why? Why do they have so little? Why do their babies die from malaria or water-born illnesses? We KNOW that with flick of His finger, He CAN heal, bring clean water, eradicate disease. If He is the God who created all the universe, this doesn't seem like a large task. Then I wonder, why does He need me to go to this remote place? Why were any of us there? Truth is, He doesn't NEED me. That is when I remember that He is a God of relationship, as was evidenced by Jesus' time on this earth. Jesus could have floated on a cloud & healed the lepers, but He chose to walk among them, touch them. He could have lazed under a shady tree & healed the sick, the blind, the barren, raised the dead, without breaking a sweat. But He lived among them, loved them, became their friend. I begin to see that He loves through our human touch. He loves through our relationships with others. He loves through our caring, our selflessness, our willingness to love those that others may have forgotten. Just like Jesus. Let's be honest, God doesn't NEED us to bring them clean water, but He chose His people to go love....His people. God doesn't need ME to show love to these sweet children, but He chose me to go anyway. How incredibly humbling. These families....moms, dads, kids, grandmothers, grandfathers, have all been cared for by the ministry of Let Them LOL. They are getting clean water, children are going to school, receiving meals, getting medical attention, being taught farming so they can self-sustain. God didn't NEED LOL to do this. He could have done it all Himself. But, how much sweeter to connect His children in the U.S. to His children in Sierra Leone? Bringing people together because there is a need. Teaching us to love & to be loved. Believe me, I left that place feeling like I received way more than I gave. People often say, "well, if God is so great, why is there still poverty, heartbreak, disease, etc? Can't He end all that? Does He hear our cries?" I think the answer is, absolutely. And when disaster hits & you see people rush in to help, that's how He is choosing to answer those needs. When a team of people travel from Buffalo, NY (& Nashville, TN!) to Sierra Leone, Africa, to drill wells & build schools, hug & laugh with children, encourage parents, that's how He's choosing to answer. When people in my new home town are living in poverty, hungry & can't afford school supplies for their children, our local church sets up a Mobile Food Pantry to supply shopping carts full of food & backpacks full of supplies for their children & 100 volunteers show up in 100 degree heat to serve 150 local families. That's how He's choosing to answer. I'm sure He could miraculously heal, and I believe He does, but how beautiful to have groups of strangers donate to Go-Fund Me accounts to help raise money for families with sick loved ones; to see God work through the hands of talented, compassionate medical teams; to have those same strangers praying & sending words of encouragement to help lift up families during crisis. That's how they feel not only His provision, but His love. He uses each one of us to fulfill His purpose. He's a God of relationship, what a beautiful sight it must be to our Heavenly Father to see his children care for one another. And in God's beautiful economy, somehow, when we give to others, care for others, put others' needs above your own, that is when He takes care for us. We are also reminded that when we care for His children, we are caring for Him, "Truly, I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40). He desires a relationship with each one of us as well. God certainly doesn't NEED ME to do anything to care for His children, but I am SO grateful that He asks me to anyway. And He's asking you too. We just need to be willing to say "yes".
