A Very Touching Experience

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A few weeks ago, I had a very touching experience. 

It was an activity planned by Petra City Church (the international church plant I attend). I haven't talked about Petra much, but it's an amazing community of national and international believers who serve and grow together and is a huge part of my life in Mwanza.

It was a sunny Sunday afternoon, where we went to visit "ICare" a ministry that cares for children in Tanzania with cancer. It provides a home for children and their families while they are having treatment in Mwanza. (Kinda like a Tanzanian version of a Ronald McDonald house)! Currently, there are 25 children with their moms living there who have come from all over the country.

Swaumu, the little girl whose picture is at the beginning of this update, is one of those children. She is 1 year, 9 months old and is fighting Rhabdomysarcoma, a rare type of cancer that starts in the soft tissue and often affects the head, neck, urinary, reproductive and arm or leg areas, and can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She is staying at iCare while she undergoes treatment.

A group of 25 of us from Petra, young and old alike, carpooled through the busy streets of Mwanza to visit, simply to lift the spirits of the children, encourage the moms and just love on them.

The funny thing is, I think we were blessed as much or more than them. It was so powerful. So moving.

The Petra children sang and played games with the ICare children. The adults shared a bible study, time of prayer and fellowship. We all joined in singing, eating and just being with each other. (We led the singing but, I have to say, when one of the mamas took over - it rose to a whole new level!)

What a powerful lesson of breaking down boundaries and differences and just caring together. We witnessed firsthand the ICare kids transform from being shy to being fully engaged (like when they pushed their way into getting the last spot of Musical chairs). We saw our Petra kids having fun too, never noticing any difference between them and the children with whom they were visiting. I saw the joy on the mama's faces as we fussed over how cute their baby was or simply shared a smile. As guests, we didn't need to say anything to each other, but I know we were all deeply moved by the simplicity and profoundness of it all. Words weren't necessary.

To me, this is what God's love is all about. Just showing up. Just being there. And, in the end, we get lifted up, we get encouraged too.







I realize this isn't an update on my regular work with VOH Africa but life here in Africa is all about relationships and community. And to me, that's just as important as anything.

Thanks for letting me share this touching experience with you. I hope it encourages you and reminds us to just slow down a little, take time for others and simply be Christ's love in action. 
 

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" Gal 6:2
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Blessings!
Jeanette

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