Then There Was Joy!!

I knew the title of this blog before my feet even hit the floor this morning, what I didn't know was where I was going to see the joy. I assumed that it would be in Mbonisweni since that is where I spend Thursday morning. Barbara and Blue were going to teach the ladies to knit and I knew that would be joyful. That's not where the joy came. 

The joy came in the least expected place....Themba Hospital children's ward! There were two team members that had yet to experience the hospital and last night I "informed" Jeremy that I would NOT go back today to take them. His response was simple, "we'll make a plan." 

The morning came and we packed up the team and headed out to Mbon ready to cut veggies and knit. I still felt that these two guys should experience the hospital and we had a ton of people helping with cooking, so I called Kacy and asked about going to the hospital. There was a jump in my spirit as she answered the phone and she said, "sure, I don't care who goes." Something inside me knew it needed to be me, "is it ok with you if it's me?" Her answer was sure, "Yes, sometimes you need to just go back and see." 

I loaded up Andy and Julian, who hadn't been, and Luke and Clair, who were with me yesterday and off we went. The change in the atmosphere was apparent as soon as we walked into the hall! The hall was teaming with nurses, doctors, and parents! We worked our way down the hallways and into the rooms where we heard them call Malungo...white person...and Go Go!! They were looking at books that we had taken yesterday. They were laughing! The joy was tangible! 

We played peek-a-boo and great giggles erupted. Hand games were being taught and re-taught. Books were being read and pictures being shown and the joy just got greater and greater. 

Now to be completely honest, I think it was our joy that was increasing. The little boy that was in the car accident was still there but appeared to be in less pain and improving. The little burn victims were still there but they were feeling loved. The mom with the two year old was still there, but he had eaten two plates of food this morning and she was joyful and HOPEFUL!! Our joy was being filled up through their joy!

God knew that we needed to see it all again. God knew that we needed to see that His joy is ever present. Why else would there be two left that needed to go? God knew!

So, in ending...Life is still so very fragile but joy does come in the morning!