Day 2: Dandora Church

  Today we drove into the slums to go to church at Dandora Baptist.  This is the same church Paul came to help work on during his trip to Africa a few years ago.  Driving into the slums, I tried to tell myself it wouldn't be that tough, because I knew what to expect, what my eyes might see and how I might feel.  The smells, the sites and the busyness was overwhelming yet again.  Kids playing with hub caps with a wire attached, people bustling around from one place to the next and pigs eating in the dump with families next to them looking for hidden treasures they can either sell or eat.

  Why should anyone live this way?  The things I saw today, I would not let my own kids do at all.  In fact the thought of my family living in these conditions, makes me completely sick.  However, in the midst of all the filth there was the church, clean, beautiful and full of the Holy Spirit.  I saw several families looking nicely dressed, walking to church.   Which brought interesting thoughts to my mind.  These people in the slums must have a desire to be more, go to knew places and have hope that there is more to life.  Isn't this how God see's us?  Sometimes we have so much "junk", "dirty laundry" or "baggage" all around us.  But Christ see's us clean, pure and wonderfully made.  He see's us through His eyes, full of potential if we would only look to Him and change our perspective.  Why do I see myself with the filthy dirt all around me?  I pray that I can see myself through His eyes, because I really do see there is more to life and I want to reach to Him more to clear the dirt around me.  

  Pastor John and his wife Rose were thrilled to see us and wanted to show us all around the new church.  It was great for the team to see the old church and now the new church.  What a difference, so beautiful. 

New church isle...

Front of new church

Old church outside

Old church inside

Rose, Pastor John and Raphael

Pastor John, Rose and team.  :)

  Raphael is terrific!  He has helped me set up the Dandora visit.  He shared that the pastor has been his mentor for many years.  Raphael is a compassion child who Bayside church, as a whole, has been sponsoring.  He is finishing his last semester at University.  He would like to do something with community development when he is done with school.  Such an amazing young man, so full of God's love and a infectious smile.  :)

  Later after church, we were meeting our compassion children.  One of my family's compassion children goes to Dandora Baptist for church and school.  I had shared with Raphael that it would be a dream of mine to go to church with Oscar and his family.  As our team walked into church...there was Oscar.  Yes, insert tears.  I was overwhelmed with emotion.  Oscar is in his first year of high school.  Was this happening??  

  Oh my goodness...are you crying with me??  Really???  Oscar's smile is beautiful and it was terrific to raise hands, clap, pray and enjoy the service together.  I got to meet his mom too!  She was so appreciative and gave me the strongest hug.  Oscar had to translate for us to talk.  I kept saying how proud we were of Oscar and how we are so honored to be a part of his family.  His mom wanted to know about us, how many kids we have etc.  It was amazing.  Can you imagine being his mom for a moment?  I mean I really can't.  Billy meeting sitting at church with his sponsor who pays for him to go to school and get food each day.  I too would want to know who is doing this for my child.  What are they like?  I wouldn't know what to say or how to say thanks.  There was so much emotion, excitement and joy in this precious experience.  One that I'm sure will be needing to be processed.  Oh how I feel blessed to have this experience.  Sitting in church with Oscar, I felt like I needed to pinch myself as tears of joy fell.  How could God love me this much to choose me to sponsor this child?

  Service was amazing, not just because of Oscar, but because of the infectious joy for the Lord the members of Dandora Baptist have.  Pastor John explained that the church is founded and how they laid out the church entrance when you walk in.  When you walk in the doors inscribed in the floor you see Psalm 23 which talks about who you are to Christ.  As you walk towards the alter, inscribed in the floor is Matthew 28:16-20 which talks of the great commission that God has for you.  Then right before the alter, inscribed is Jesus Christ our only Strength.  Which represents the power of the holy spirit in you.  Just love the symbolism.  We should be thinking about this daily.  God brings us together for one reason, the great commission.  All our other chores or busyness should come after that.  The service also talk about God testing us, Phil. 4:6-7 "Don't fret or worry.  Instead of worrying, pray.  Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.  Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.  It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."  Tears fell as I thought of the church members and their worries.  Oscar and what he faces on a daily basis.  I don't have the slightest idea of the kind of worries they have.  I can only imagine, but I really have no idea what it's like.  And as I sit here in church, they are all believing, praying and trusting in God to provide, care and love others.   In fact after service, they were going to a few people's home in the community to share God's love and preach the gospel!   I'm thinking, I was fretting about all the details of the trip, errands I had to do before getting here etc...my fretting is ridiculous.  These folks are fretting about food, paying rent in a 1 room shack, not getting a disease...staying alive!  Really?  Puts things into perspective quickly.  Again, thank you God that I have this opportunity to look with in and make some changes.  :)