March 13
Shayla
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, … and provide for those who grieve … to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)
The other day my wife Kris and I were sitting in the living room talking. We sat in the cool morning air sipping our hot coffees and gazing at the bright day outside. Somehow we got on the subject of living our lives over again. What would we do? was the question. In answering the question, I did the risky thing.
I didn’t say something easy like, “I wouldn’t change a thing, Honey….” But because I know how painful life would be without Drew, and Ryan, and Alex, and Kris—a Nicolas Cage, Family Man kind of experience—I answered with great seriousness….
“I’d go to Africa.” I stared out the front windows toward the mountains. “I’d be right in the middle of the AIDS pandemic making a difference in as many lives as possible."
“Reaaaally?” Kris gave me a quizzical look.
“Yeah.” As painful as that experience would be, it was the truth.
But, I’m not in Africa. I didn’t go, but maybe there’s something I can do to help Africans. A few months ago, I preached a sermon and briefly touched on the subject. I shared how God had been moving in my heart and changing me. He was moving me from indifference and smug self-righteousness to compassion.
I shared a picture of Yeshi Wondmu—a skinny, little Ethiopian girl we’ve started to support. One of nine children, she lost her parents to AIDS and now her poor, aged, unemployed grandparents are doing what little they can for her.
I shared a few words from Yeshi’s first letter to us. Her words were so simple, so touching, so good to my soul. She said, “Thank you,” and “God bless you!” and “I love you.” She melted my heart, but she did more.
She helped inspire a young woman in our congregation. Shayla, a recent graduate of a Chicago Bible college, has set out on an 8-month adventure with Africa Inland Mission. Now, just about every day, Shayla ventures into the hot, dusty pit of Kibera and helps where she can. World renowned, Kibera is Africa’s largest slum—home to perhaps a million people living outside of Nairobi, Kenya.
Each day, Shayla and her partner share the love of Christ. It isn’t easy, but there seems to be a special joy in serving the Lord here. To learn more, visit Shayla’s blog at http://www.shaylatoafrica.blogspot.com/.
I hope and pray I can have an impact—a fraction of hers—a love that gives like Shayla’s … a love that gives and endures….
Father, bless Shayla and those like her who answer Your call, who sacrifice for the cause of Christ, who go and love where few would ever dare. Amen.
Shayla
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, … and provide for those who grieve … to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)
The other day my wife Kris and I were sitting in the living room talking. We sat in the cool morning air sipping our hot coffees and gazing at the bright day outside. Somehow we got on the subject of living our lives over again. What would we do? was the question. In answering the question, I did the risky thing.
I didn’t say something easy like, “I wouldn’t change a thing, Honey….” But because I know how painful life would be without Drew, and Ryan, and Alex, and Kris—a Nicolas Cage, Family Man kind of experience—I answered with great seriousness….
“I’d go to Africa.” I stared out the front windows toward the mountains. “I’d be right in the middle of the AIDS pandemic making a difference in as many lives as possible."
“Reaaaally?” Kris gave me a quizzical look.
“Yeah.” As painful as that experience would be, it was the truth.
But, I’m not in Africa. I didn’t go, but maybe there’s something I can do to help Africans. A few months ago, I preached a sermon and briefly touched on the subject. I shared how God had been moving in my heart and changing me. He was moving me from indifference and smug self-righteousness to compassion.
I shared a picture of Yeshi Wondmu—a skinny, little Ethiopian girl we’ve started to support. One of nine children, she lost her parents to AIDS and now her poor, aged, unemployed grandparents are doing what little they can for her.
I shared a few words from Yeshi’s first letter to us. Her words were so simple, so touching, so good to my soul. She said, “Thank you,” and “God bless you!” and “I love you.” She melted my heart, but she did more.
She helped inspire a young woman in our congregation. Shayla, a recent graduate of a Chicago Bible college, has set out on an 8-month adventure with Africa Inland Mission. Now, just about every day, Shayla ventures into the hot, dusty pit of Kibera and helps where she can. World renowned, Kibera is Africa’s largest slum—home to perhaps a million people living outside of Nairobi, Kenya.
Each day, Shayla and her partner share the love of Christ. It isn’t easy, but there seems to be a special joy in serving the Lord here. To learn more, visit Shayla’s blog at http://www.shaylatoafrica.blogspot.com/.
I hope and pray I can have an impact—a fraction of hers—a love that gives like Shayla’s … a love that gives and endures….
Father, bless Shayla and those like her who answer Your call, who sacrifice for the cause of Christ, who go and love where few would ever dare. Amen.
posted by Craig Soderquist at 10:48 AM
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