ZUHURA IS HAPPY....and so am I

Darlene and I often say that “we live in Paradise already” in Kenya. In the morning the birds sing us into joy.  Surrounding the house are hibiscus and bougainvillea and roses.  Out front are the California wildflowers and banana trees and our garden and more roses.  And on the nearby plots are some of the people we love best in the world – Victor and Angela, Jackton and Millie, Laurent and Eliza, Joel and Tira – our neighbors with little kids who are like grandchildren to us.  Often Raymond and Kelcey and Kehl will come to the door for “sweets” or “bi-qui” (biscuits, cookies). 

This week we hosted six families for a Passover Seder – so much laughter and enjoyment – they looked at old pictures from the first years of Made in the Streets, and some of the kids are now old enough to read part of the Seder and share in the “dayenu” (“it would have been enough…”). 

Paradise…but nothing compares to those rare and precious moments in chapel when true life is revealed to us.  On Thursday morning, the same day as our Seder, Zuhura stood up to share (most days either a student or a Team member will share a short story, a scripture and maybe a song).  She had found a story about a girl riding a bus, a girl in tears, in deep agony, and no one on the bus noticed much.  But one man, as he was about to alight, turned to the girl, wanting to say something to help.  The bus stopped, and it was time to get off, and everyone wanted to get on to their destinations, wherever life takes us, but the man asked for a moment. Reaching in his backpack, he pulled out a Bible, handed it to the girl, and told her that whatever the great trouble was, God has an answer and this book will guide you.  And it turned out to be true, as the girl’s life turned around, and of course the man never knew, or did he?

Paradise…and then Zuhura talked about herself.  She reminded us that a year ago when she arrived at Kamulu, she was bitter in heart, angry and confused.  Then she said, “When Charles came back from the USA this time, he told me, “Zuhura, you have changed. You are happy now.”  “And it’s true,” she said, “I am happy now. Christ does that for us.”  Then she told about something I had completely forgotten.  She said that when we were building the new girls’ residences, I came through the girls’ compound one day and walked by the house where the moms and babies stay.  I heard arguing and anger.  She says I poked my head in the door and yelled, “Is God here? Let God be in here.”  And she said that is what we need, to let God be here. 

Zuhura is a good student...trouble is in the past. The future is bright.
If you want to help send her to jewelry training, let me know.
charles@madeinthestreets.org 

Paradise…my kind of place.  And as one old song says, “I’m always going home inside.” Whether I am heading for Texas or Nairobi, I am heading home, to children and grandchildren and all that I hold dear.  And just think…there is a third destination, a Paradise that exceeds all, that is more than mortal mind dreams of, filled with fruit out front and leaves for healing of the nations…and for healing me…a place where we will not even notice the birds singing and flowers blooming, but our eyes, our hearts, our minds, rest on the throne, and the Lamb.