Africa/People

 Well I am finally home from an almost 3 week journey from Corpus to Maputo, Mozambique. I personally dread traveling any distance at all from home now, but it was well worth it. Today I am always looking forward to "What will God show me" when I get back from these trips. Here it goes...
 We arrived just in time for our grandaughters second birthday. We were a little frazzled, but it was still a blesssing. We went to the Hospital the very next day. In case you do not know, our youngest daughter and her husband Jon are missionaries in Maputo. They had other ideas of what they would do in Africa when they moved over there, but God had other ideas for their lives. They go almost daily to the government hospital and love on the people in the 'Oncology' department. This hospital is not anything like one would imagine here in the states. There is no air conditioning, sheets do not get changed very often, the semll of death and sickness is almost overwhelming, and just walking through the door makes your mind question whether it is safe to be there or not. Amputee's, people with tumors, and eye's openly gone with nothing but a socket staring at you are common, and their pain engulfs you. As the men and women of the hospital saw Jon, Layne, Judy, Me and our two grandaughters approaching, smiles quickly said it all. They were glad that people who loved them were coming to spend time with them in the dreaded filth and disease that is prevalent around them. I need to let you all know one other important thing "90-95%" of all of these people will die. It is an amazing thing to witness the joy and smiles of all of these people when they see love coming. Yes, they are dying, and yes there is no reason for anyone to even feel joy in their enviroment. What my son-in-law and daughter do, they do well. Giving hope to those who have no hope with little time left here on earth.
 As you drive through and around Maputo, you find yourself extremely grateful for everything you have here in america. Each and everyday that we drove out to our destinations had me comepletely mesermized by people always running aroud like ants. People here, people there, and people everywhere you looked. The streets are lined with vendors trying to eek out some kind of living, and I really don't recall any street that did not have someone selling, working, walking or driving. Traffic is unbelievable and usually the 'Bigger' car wins the battle for space and right of way.
 My daughter and son-in-law saved up their money and took Judy and I to a nice secluded beach for a couple of days. It was truly a blessing and another way to see God through people and beauty. After the long trip, the party, and the hospital, it was a true blessing.
 When we arrived home and went back to the hospital we found out that three people we had just met died over the weekend. Still, the remaining turned their frowns into smiles as we once again walked up to that dirty, dingy hospital full of death, sickness, loneliness and filth. The living still saw hope in their situation.
 On our way and while I was there I read three books, 'If I Perish', 'Heavenly Man' and 'No Greater Love.' My faith was challenged by all three of these books, and the sheer enviroment in which I treaded daily was a test of my true love and devotion to Jesus Christ and serving others. When we arrived in Washington I began reading 'Enough.' As I read through the pages of this book I found myself once again challenged to the depths of my heart. What is 'Enough?' Why do we yearn for more when more still leaves an explainable emptiness.
 In conclusion I want to leave you all with something to think about. Do you really love? Are you truly serving others as Christ served us? Toady was my first day back at the Food Pantry. The long trip and the weariness of it escaped as a mist. I called the first person in to talk with them before they received help and was able to offer them hope. Even in the good old USA people still need hope. The down, the trodden, and even those who have learned to 'Work the System' need to know that there is a more excellant way. There is something that comes without cost, and that something is Christ working in and through you. We are blessed tremendously, and we who call ourselves Christians need to know that the only thing that will ever bring us true joy is Christ manifesting Himself through us. Be of good cheer and thank God for another day......We are blessed~