I've had the opportunity to share in previous posts how greatly encouraged our team was on many occasions during our trip. I'd be less than honest, however, if I did not also share that we experienced moments (even days) of incredible despair. In truth, we had team members who felt completely broken, wiped out, inadequate.... and they struggled to find the strength or the desire to go out and face another day fearing they would only see and experience more of the same. Thankfully God's grace is all sufficient and He fills and renews us each day. His provision is enough to get us through this day. We may be completely spent at the end of it, but He is faithful and He will refresh and renew us again tomorrow according to our needs on that day.
There is a stark contrast when you visit a place where community is completely shattered and hope seems elusive. We visited a place like this. There was an overwhelming sense that evil had managed to gain footing despite the efforts of the local church. Here, it is much harder to see the Hope. Instead you see anger, apathy, despair, numbness, emptiness, abuse, suffering.... But it is also here that we could see the value of working with an organization like U4A. This particular community was devastated by the post election violence in 2008 and the aftermath is beyond anything I could have imagined. The road to restoration will be a long one but U4A has the wisdom and experience to stand with such a community and help them to find their way. I was deeply moved when I heard Samson tell these church leaders that he had met for the first time earlier in the day that U4A was committed to walk alongside them. Knowing that U4A would be there leading this community toward holistic transformation totally changed my perspective about P82 working there. I went from overwhelmed and almost hopeless to believing and even visualizing redemption in a community that desperately needs a Savior. And I could imagine the sadness that I saw in the eyes of the children being replaced with pure JOY that only comes from the ONE who created them. One of our team members, Carl Setterlind, beautifully captured some of these faces with his camera. I've included a link here. Please join us in praying for these children and for this community. P82 is working with U4A to gain a better understanding of the specific needs of the orphans and vulnerable children and we are prayerfully considering how we can stand together to help transform a community and bring hope to the fatherless.
