Monday, June 15, 2009

I Surrender All



"I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations." Psalm 108:3
If you have never had the opportunity to praise the LORD with Africans at one of their village churches...all I can say, is, WOW! Our 1st Sunday we went to one of the local pastors church. It was so fun as they danced and praised the LORD with all their might and all their love.



This young man, who I later fell helplessly in love with, played "I Surrender All". I was so moved by the SURRENDER of praise and worship that I saw in this church.
Women danced beautiful African dances to other songs (moves that I will never be able to do...there is just something special in they way they dance), a young boys choir sang...it was so wonderful to worship the LORD half way around the world with other brothers and sisters. See the drums on the side...those guys (and a few women) really played those drums!!!!! They were so GOOD.



Then Tonny (from above) and two other young men sang a song. It was so wonderful to see the absolute love they had as they sang to our LORD.





After church, candy was passed out for the children (though the adults loved the candy too). It was a little like a feeding frenzy...every seen fish go crazy when you throw food in the water for them....









The next day was the 1st time for Kalyn and I to get to visit the Sanyu baby home which was just down the road from us.
Here, little ones are waiting for the food come. It was not as peaceful as this picture looks...








Time for bed...the beds have net to keep the children safe from mosquitoes. It was fun to help put them to bed and pray for them.



Kalyn and I both loved holding and playing with as many babies as we could hold in our arms.







And one last picture for the post...

It is cute when little children help hold and comfort others,
however, I don't think "how cute" when I look at this...I think "how very sad". Sad because there is no mother or father to comfort these children. Orphans are parenting each other and it is sad!

"Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them!" Ecclesiastes 4;1

8 comments:

  1. That last picture breaks my heart. Completely.

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  2. I love how so many of our brothers and sisters truly know how to worship the Lord. They go before the throne offering all they are and all they have to give to God. I pray that all consuming fire of God ignites in the churches of America.
    I look upon the faces of the orphaned and my heart breaks.... I just want to take them into my arms and whisper to them that they are loved and cherished and that it is going to be ok. Oh, Father, God... please bless the children. May the little ones with out families one day be in the arms of their forever families. May the walls of bureaucracy and lack of finances fall down so that more families (including ours) bring their little miracles home.

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  3. I SPY JACK! Thanks for posting that. I got to go and cuddle him for two hours yesterday--and the Lord just kept giving me sweet songs of praise to whisper in his ear. I am getting a tad impatient and do not know when I need to put on some pressure--the little guys is not doing well.

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  4. Oh my goodness, friend--these pictures move me to tears. Firstly because I miss Africa so much it hurts. And secondly because seeing those little ones with no-one to love absolutely breaks my heart. What a amazing memories you have.

    Yes, the Africans sure do know how to worship the Father with EVERYTHING that is within them. Isn't it funny how church can go on for hours and hours and hours. Here in the States we watch our clocks and start shifting in our seats if the preacher dare go longer than he should Ug! There is so much we can learn from the Africans!

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  5. Shonni;

    That last picture has me in tears. Oh, that His church would wake up.

    Kimmie

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  6. Oh my goodness, what a message you all have here. The last picture brought tears to my eyes. Children are having to parent each other.
    I am glad you were able to go on this mission trip.

    I lived in the Philippines for 3 years and the American Missionaries would take us to different villages and orphanages. Sometimes we would help or just find out their needs and follow up on them. The saddest thing was kids begging everywhere or stealing from anyone they could.
    Our prayers and help are needed so much here and abroad.
    Thank you for your wonderful message. I like your blog. And your kids are beautiful.
    Take care. I'll be back to read more.
    Nannette

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  7. Wow... letting it all sink in... Wow... how much work there is left to do with such little resources... we are truly ignorant to what goes on in so many places. Thanks for sharing Shonni... can't wait to see you in July :c)

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