All You Need is Love
Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14
Life in Morogoro is so good. This weekend I had the privilege of attending a preschool graduation ceremony for a young girl in our community named Shadya. My friend Raylee met Shadya when she came to Tanzania for the first time three summers ago and they formed an incredible bond. As Raylee continued to come back to Morogoro over the past three years, their relationship grew stronger, and through our friend Frank, Raylee learned more about Shadya. She learned that Shadya is an orphan living with her aunt and uncle. She learned that she was not enrolled in school. And most recently, she learned that her home life with these relatives was not healthy or safe for Shadya. When Raylee came back to Morogoro this summer she was determined to find a way to help Shadya out of this situation. With Frank's help, we found a Catholic boarding school here in Morogoro where Shadya could live and go to school. She is seven years old, but because she had not previously attended school she had to enroll in their preschool program. By the grace of God, the school accepted Shadya and Raylee provided all of the funds for her tuition and other school fees. She began school at the beginning of July.
This Thursday, Frank received a call from Shadya's school informing him that she was performing so well, they wanted her to graduate from the preschool program early and move on to the first grade. To say we were excited is an understatement. I called Raylee with the good news and she too was ecstatic and cried happy tears. Frank and I attended the graduation on Saturday and proudly watched as this amazing little girl danced, sang, received her certificate, and laughed happily with her new friends. Raylee recorded a video telling Shadya how proud of her she was and how much she loves her. When I showed it to Shadya, her eyes lit up and a huge smile spread across her face. It was such a happy day that, without the love of Raylee and Frank, would not have been possible. I am blessed to call such amazing people my friends.
Love. When I think about my job as a 'missionary' that pretty much sum up my job description. Yes, my job is to teach English. Yes, my job is to participate in youth events. Yes, my job is to coordinate the sponsored students. But above all, my job is to love. I didn't come to Tanzania because God called me to "fix" it. I came here because God filled my heart with so much love for this place and these people that I couldn't stay away. It is through the lens of "lover", rather than the lens of "fixer" that I am called to see all things. I don't want to be the mzungu (Swahili word for white person) who comes in temporarily, ready to fix everything without first seeing the reason and purpose behind the systems already in place. These people are smart and resourceful and have spent years building strong communities without American influence. I don't want to be the mzungu taking pictures of women and children without first taking the time to find out who they are. These people have names and stories that they gladly share when you take the time to ask. I don't want to be the mzungu who will only help or communicate under conditions that make it easiest for them without first understanding the challenges and barriers of the people I am called to help. These people are learners and teachers and when given the opportunity they will do both to the best of their ability. God has not called me to judge and fix and be stingy with the gifts he has blessed me with. He has called me to love. If I am doing my job well, God will use my gifts to make a difference in the ways that He desires, not I.
I admire the relationship that God has knit together between Raylee and Shadya. And I admire Raylee's reliance on God and trust in Frank as she discerned the way to best help Shadya. It was so apparent on Saturday that Raylee's love is changing Shadya's life. Imagine what the world would be like if we all fostered just one relationship with someone in need as loving as this one.
Mungu akubariki,
Allee
1 Corinthians 16:14
Life in Morogoro is so good. This weekend I had the privilege of attending a preschool graduation ceremony for a young girl in our community named Shadya. My friend Raylee met Shadya when she came to Tanzania for the first time three summers ago and they formed an incredible bond. As Raylee continued to come back to Morogoro over the past three years, their relationship grew stronger, and through our friend Frank, Raylee learned more about Shadya. She learned that Shadya is an orphan living with her aunt and uncle. She learned that she was not enrolled in school. And most recently, she learned that her home life with these relatives was not healthy or safe for Shadya. When Raylee came back to Morogoro this summer she was determined to find a way to help Shadya out of this situation. With Frank's help, we found a Catholic boarding school here in Morogoro where Shadya could live and go to school. She is seven years old, but because she had not previously attended school she had to enroll in their preschool program. By the grace of God, the school accepted Shadya and Raylee provided all of the funds for her tuition and other school fees. She began school at the beginning of July.
This Thursday, Frank received a call from Shadya's school informing him that she was performing so well, they wanted her to graduate from the preschool program early and move on to the first grade. To say we were excited is an understatement. I called Raylee with the good news and she too was ecstatic and cried happy tears. Frank and I attended the graduation on Saturday and proudly watched as this amazing little girl danced, sang, received her certificate, and laughed happily with her new friends. Raylee recorded a video telling Shadya how proud of her she was and how much she loves her. When I showed it to Shadya, her eyes lit up and a huge smile spread across her face. It was such a happy day that, without the love of Raylee and Frank, would not have been possible. I am blessed to call such amazing people my friends.
Love. When I think about my job as a 'missionary' that pretty much sum up my job description. Yes, my job is to teach English. Yes, my job is to participate in youth events. Yes, my job is to coordinate the sponsored students. But above all, my job is to love. I didn't come to Tanzania because God called me to "fix" it. I came here because God filled my heart with so much love for this place and these people that I couldn't stay away. It is through the lens of "lover", rather than the lens of "fixer" that I am called to see all things. I don't want to be the mzungu (Swahili word for white person) who comes in temporarily, ready to fix everything without first seeing the reason and purpose behind the systems already in place. These people are smart and resourceful and have spent years building strong communities without American influence. I don't want to be the mzungu taking pictures of women and children without first taking the time to find out who they are. These people have names and stories that they gladly share when you take the time to ask. I don't want to be the mzungu who will only help or communicate under conditions that make it easiest for them without first understanding the challenges and barriers of the people I am called to help. These people are learners and teachers and when given the opportunity they will do both to the best of their ability. God has not called me to judge and fix and be stingy with the gifts he has blessed me with. He has called me to love. If I am doing my job well, God will use my gifts to make a difference in the ways that He desires, not I.
I admire the relationship that God has knit together between Raylee and Shadya. And I admire Raylee's reliance on God and trust in Frank as she discerned the way to best help Shadya. It was so apparent on Saturday that Raylee's love is changing Shadya's life. Imagine what the world would be like if we all fostered just one relationship with someone in need as loving as this one.
Mungu akubariki,
Allee
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| Shadya after she received her certificate and necklaces. So proud! |
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