A Beautiful Day and Then....

On Tuesday, Brett and I took a day away from base and went on a grand adventure to Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondowels. We left about 8 in the morning and headed for Harrie’s Pancakes, in Graskop, for some delicious pancakes and coffee. I had a cinnamon, sugar, and milk cream tart pancake. Brett had a strawberry preserve pancake and we shared a chili con carne pancake. We each had coke and a latte. Remember this for later. After breakfast we headed up the road to the canyon. For R5, about $.50, we were able to see the most beautiful scenery! God painted such a beautiful picture for us on Tuesday. There were these beautiful little white butterflies everywhere! At every turn we saw God and His beauty and then…

Today, Thursday, we went to a feeding in Dwaleni. This is a community that has many orphans and vulnerable children. These children wear clothes that are entirely too small or entirely too big. They wear the leftovers. They also wear hunger, shame, anger, frustration, and death all too prominently.  As we watched the children coming and coming and coming, and having seen how much food there was, something inside me knew there would not be enough food. Sure enough, not enough food. The hardest thing was seeing the ones who did not get a plate, fight for the little pap that was left in a bowl that had been placed on the ground. It was if they were feeding the dogs and this, though cultural, was extremely difficult to watch.

Remember up above when I said “remember this for later?” Well, now is later. These are the times that I struggle with what I have and what others don’t have. Here is where I try very hard to find balance. This is the place where you wonder and ask “Why God?” This is the place that tears my heart apart and yet it is the one place where I know God has called me. When my heart is torn into pieces I can only lean on the One who is able to piece it all back together again. I may not see with my natural eyes what is taking place in the spiritual realm but I rest in knowing that His Word is clear in James 1:27 (Amp) External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.  

So, today I visited with a sweet friend, Sophie. Today, I helped serve food to the hungry. Today, I cared for the orphans. Tomorrow will take care of itself.