Two worlds, one family

Today has yet been another day of very mixed emotions and extremes.

I found myself lacking motivation this morning and had a lot on my mind as I went into Bible School to try and teach on “What is Praise?” It was one of those days when I needed the Holy Spirit to do something, and I think he did.

For homework last week I had asked the students to write a paragraph on a time in their lives when they found it really hard to praise. Some of the responses would have brought a tear to your eye. One guy said, “ I found it hard to thank God for loving me when I was doing bad things and had been drinking, but he stepped into my life and brought me hope and I give him thanks now each day because I can come to Bible School and I know he loves me, even though I wasn’t very nice.” Another: “I found it hard to thank God when my province was in famine; it felt like God had forgotten us. But I remembered that we have to pray whatever is happening in life and so I did and slowly food started to come in.” If felt like a real privilege to get a glimpse into these guy’s lives. Others were struggling with the fact that God hadn’t healed them yet, but were choosing to be thankful for other things in their lives.

Today I was using a CS Lewis quote from the book from which we are teaching. I asked how many had ever heard of CS Lewis and the response was as I thought it would be – no one had. How do you being to explain CS Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters? I focused more on the quote than on him and it got me out of a tight spot! So maybe a search should begin for “The lion, the witch and the wardrobe” in Portuguese.

This afternoon brought a mix of emotions in a short space of time. One family re-united: another ripped apart because of an HIV+ diagnosis.

When I have the full story of the reunited family I will let you read it for yourself, but the basic fact is that an older guy who has been on the centre a while went for a can of coke at the gate, got chatting to someone, and another younger boy spoke up and said “you talk the same way as someone I know.” The person he knew turned out to be the brother (I think) of this guy and he knew where his family were. So this last weekend he went to see his mother for the first time in maybe 14 years! The smile on the guy’s face today was infectious. He was so happy he couldn’t stop smiling and if that kid hadn’t spoken up…. he would still be looking and wondering where his family are tonight. What a miracle!

The other end of the spectrum is a woman who has suffered domestic violence from her husband, and she discovered today that she was HIV+ because of his infidelity. Sadly from her appearance it seems quite far on, I hope it’s not too late for ARV’s to work.

Some days here are full of joy, others bring the harsh reality of life in this place but today has held both, and within about 30mins of each other.

This has been a tough week with one thing and another! If you are the praying kind please just keep me in your prayers from time to time. I really would appreciate it.