Day 8

OK everyone - last post... then we are on the plane and headed home.

Today we journeyed out to Joska, the boarding school they run for older children in the country. About 450 children, around ages 10-14, live there and take classes. This place truly shows how far they have brought these children out of the slums. The air is clean and the facilities (while temporary and basic) are amazing compared to what they have come from: flushing toilets, showers, individual bunk beds with mattresses, larger classrooms and huge grounds to run and play on.

We attended their regular church service where I was asked to preach. I spoke on Jesus' multiplication of 5 loaves and 2 fishes - and how Christ calls us to be the ones who meet the hunger/needs of those around us... and how even when all we have to place in his hands is a small amount, he can expand that beyond our expectations.

The worship was beyond moving. Every person should experience what we experienced this morning - these children sing and pray as if God himself had appeared in the room before them. Their songs moved many of us to tears and led us to join in praise for how much God has healed and lifted these children up. An incredible celebration to end the week...

After lunch - Mary walked us out to the other end of the campus and showed us the nearly completed first floor of the new permanent facility they are building there. She described the dorm rooms, soon to hold 30 children each, and how this would eventually grow to 4 stories. Then she shared how this was intended to be for a girls school only - and that they were in the process (due to a donation) of securing neighboring land to do a boys school also... the vision just keeps expanding. It's hard to keep up!

Mary shared again how appreciative they are for the support LifeSpring offers them. Through eyes welled up with tears, she made sure I understood that they see us as their partners and covet our continued prayers.

I shared with her a bit from a book I'm reading where the author describes the experience of the Kingdom of God on earth in a very creative way. He says that the Kingdom of God is where "there are no cramped spaces." After spending the week navigating the dangerous alleyways of rusted metal slum homes... and gathering into a 7'x7' home for 16 family members... and then, ending the week in the open country surrounded by the laughter of slum-born children who are now running and playing... I believe we experienced the Kingdom of God come near. Where there are no cramped spaces. Where these children are able to spread their arms wide, breathe deep, and grow in the love Christ has for them...