Kneel before the King

Knowing it was our last day made opening our eyes to daylight just a little bit harder. Sequestered in my room until the last minute, trying to finish the constitution needed for official registration of Chayah, when I heard Janet and our two dental patients down stairs. Off we went planning to see someone who could assess some obvious problems. Dental offices are the walk-in sort I guess and when office number 1 was crowded with patients, we headed off to the second. An empty waiting room raises a couple of questions that there was no possible way to answer with any certainty, so we trusted the Lord and in went Doreen and then Regina. Within the hour, two girls were seen, 2 teeth were pulled, 4 cavities filled, and a couple of names on school sweaters were completed in the waiting room.

This morning we got a real chance to observe Regina. She is so completely shut down when away from all the other kids, that we had to wonder and then ask Janet again where she had been in her short 4 years. Her only known family, a mother, left her alone in the market one day when she was just a year old. Witnesses said they saw her with her mother who was playing with her and gave her some candy. Next thing they knew Regina was sitting alone and crying and her mother had disappeared. Someone else took her in, but this compassionate caretaker had also taken in many others- all crowded into a one room mud floor/thatched roof home. Regina was seen daily, alone and crying. It’s just one example of the bonding and trust issues that will affect the long transition period ahead. Some are on their absolute best behavior, quiet and reserved probably wondering if one false step will result in a giant U-turn in their lives.

From the dentist, we headed to the bank and then, for some food for the evening meal. Arriving at the house about noon, the adults and a few assorted children sat around and talked while we continued with the sweaters, talked with Solomon about the registration, and gave up the hope of seeing Paul the carpenter complete his work before we left.

The kids decided on their own, they wanted to have a picnic on the back porch to eat their lunch. We knew this final meal would begin the clock ticking towards the end of our part, of a new beginning. We gathered everyone in the sitting room and while they perched on the couches, plastic chairs, or scattered themselves on the rug, we encouraged them to work hard, take care of each other, their new home, and their Mom. We reminded them that Jesus would take care of their every need as they served each other. We reminded them as they went to school, they should work hard to be good examples of their family and the One who had set them apart for this special place.

Without any real fanfare, except the angelic orchestra that was playing loudly in my heart, the older boys hung the sign on the front porch, identifying our little piece of heaven…CHAYAH.

We moved to the front porch for the cake Olivia had helped to make in the new oven, then began our goodbyes. Surprisingly, the kids said goodbye today just like any other day. Janet, hopped in the van with us and as we drove away, 19 happy, jumping, waving hands sent us off.

Our Mommy, Janet, waited as we showered and packed and then escorted us the 5 hours to the airport. As we sit in the Brussels airport now, I cannot find anything eloquent to say to neatly wrap up this adventure. Perhaps, because really, it’s just the beginning of one thing or the middle of something, certainly not the end.

Much of our lives we wait for the “one thing” or “a calling” or our “life’s purpose,” something that makes us feel that we have meaning on this earth, something worthy of a label or words etched on a grave marker when we’ve finished here. Truly though, CHAYAH is God’s work. If it weren’t so, we could never leave and have any confidence. It was His vision and purpose before we were even born. These children, in this generation, in Uganda, brought together at this time, to be joined with a huge group back in the U.S. so that God could fulfill His purposes. It is our privilege to have front row seats and season tickets for His show.

Ephesians 3:14-21 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”