Socks, Shoes, and Feet

June 11, 2013

My day started with peeling potatoes... Lots and lots of potatoes. We had the privilege of helping Mama with chores around the house this morning. Organizing bookshelves, scrubbing the floor, cleaning the bathroom, cutting vegetables, brooming the yard... You name it and we probably helped do it. These everyday, mundane tasks are the ones that will wear you out day by day when keeping house for 27 children and a team of 10 "muzungu" aunties and uncles, plus the summer interns and missionaries. I love the fact that part of our schedule while we are here is to serve Mama by helping do these chores!

We headed out to the village today that is near the land Sozo is looking at purchasing for the Village Project. (Check out www.sozochildren.org to learn more...) The missionaries have been working on building relationships with people in this community and showing them the love of Jesus before they even move out there and become neighbors. And what I love about how they are building relationships is that it is not based on a bunch of "muzungus" coming to give then stuff or fix their material needs (although most Americans couldn't even begin to imagine the conditions... Much less live in them). They have a need much greater than anything this world could offer them. They need to know the love of our Savior. 

How do you attempt to do that with a group of people who don't claim anything for their religion?! (And whose young children are scared of "muzungus" and scream at the sight of them because they've never seen people with light skin...) These people say they "know" Jesus, but they also "know" Muhammad and witch doctors. What makes Christ-followers different from the rest of the world? 

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35

Loving others. That's how we show the world that we are different. And I saw that so clearly today as we went for house to house, just to visit with the families in the village. Along the way we just so happened to experience "Africa"... Following a 10 inch path through the bush with walls of grass growing taller than me on each side, successfully avoiding a "small" garden snake, tasting "G-nuts" (strangely similar to peanuts...), seeing mud huts with straw thatch roofs, and termite piles like 6 feet tall... But the smiles of the people. That's what will stick with me. The laughs if the children from a simple wave and a shout of "Muzungu!" Or a game of "Ring Around the Rosie". A high five. A chase of the "Tickle Monster." Love them. Unselfishly, unhindered, unashamed, unconditional love. Because that is the love our Father has for us. 

After time in the village, we came back to House 1 to help with afternoon chores, play with the kids, and help them with homework as they arrived home from school. I was quickly recruited by a few kids to help wash socks and shoes. And let me tell you, even the youngest child here can tell you how you are doing it incorrectly (it may have happened to me today...) They get a pail of water and bar of soap and scrub their socks every day when arriving home from school. Then they wash their shoes (yes, everyday) to get the dust and dirt off of them. In the process, we might have just gotten into a bit of a water war, gotten my feet scrubbed with a brush because they were so dirty, and listened to the heart of a little girl named Nora who shared a little bit of her story with me before she was "Sozo-d" and came to live at House 1. 

That's what it is all about. Loving God with our whole hearts, and loving others the way He loves us. (Mark 12:30-31)

I couldn't help but be continually reminded of Jesus and his servant's heart all day today. John 13:12-15 shares about when Jesus washed the disciples feet. "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." 

Serving by helping Mama, by praying for villagers, playing with children, or washing some socks, shoes, and feet... Walking in love in Uganda. Ephesians 5:1-2

Pray we we head into the slums tomorrow to build relationships and share Jesus with this community. Pray for the team to continue to get to know the Sozo kids and love on them. Continue to pray for good health and rest for the team. 

P.S. Just remembered another detail that needs sharing... First rat was spotted while washing dinner dishes tonight. Now that I've officially seen one with my own eyes and heard its little squeak, I hear them everywhere... The wildlife on this trip could get a little interesting!!