from team member....Chris

My life changing time in Sierra Leone: Unbeknownst to the rest of the team, whom I had just met, I am a ‘very’ get to A to B, work-work-work kind of Girl, my life as always resembled more Martha than Mary, with lists of things to do and what to do next. But something happened to me in Sierra Leone- all my heart longed to do was sit beside, hug a neck, & listen to the story of the beautiful African people who I fell in love with. I found myself looking for the nearest African to met, talk to and love on every moment I got. The teachers at Hosetta School, The War Widows, Tom & Becky’s neighbors, especially the amazing, God given men working around Tom & Becky, not to leave out the most beautiful children I have ever seen, God’s Children- just everywhere! I picked up, kissed & loved on as many as I could. One of the War Widow women saw my tears one day and asked me, “Why do you people love children so much?” The hard hearts, life conditions, swollen bellies from malnutrition, orphans, naked-shoeless children and even more so the kids I met who sleep on the street with no one to care for them broke me, my words would never be able to explain. One night awake during a rain storm with a broken heart, the immensity of the need in Sierra Leone overwhelmed me. The Lord gave me some scripture & a song on my ipod called Rain, a part of the song prayed: “Let your mercy rain down on me, let your love heal my heart; feed the babies who don’t have enough to eat; shoe the children with no shoes on their feet, house the people who are living in the street, oh there is a solution –Let it rain down on me.” We are commanded to love! We can’t feed or fill every need, but we can love and love deeply. Now don’t get me wrong, He has told us to take care of those orphans & widows! And to give to those in need; but he said the greatest commandment was to love. And that’s the gift I came home with and amazing eye opening love for this country, its people and my indescribable Lord who holds in all in his hands. Chris of Missouri