Serving with Joy

Trevis and I were sitting in the airport in Ethiopia waiting to fly out. I was chatting with my new friends that were part of our travel group. Trevis mentioned something about the girl standing in front of me....and how she must have had an accident. Her friend came over to her and I noticed that she looked like she had been burned too. The one girl though....the one right in front of me.....It just hurt to look at it. The burns were all over her face, her neck, and later I found out....all down her arm and on her mid-section.....

Fast-forward 17 1/2 hours when we arrive in Washington D.C. (Dulles). You have to ride this shuttle thingy right as you get off the plane and they transport you to customs and baggage claim. The girls were standing right in front of me so I had to ask what happened to them. They were all bubbly...full of joy. One went on to explain that they were from the west (Oregon or Washington...I can't remember) and were volunteering in the country of Chad, Africa. They lived in the village with host families in a mud hut for the last six weeks. They looked about 22 or 23. They shared with joy how there was a malnutrition clinic that was to be opening there soon and how they hoped to work there. She told me how protective the families were of her, how she went to the well for her water, and the ate lamb and goats....She told me how she got malaria, but it was no big deal...She just took the antibiotics and kept going. She knew what she had and she kept serving...Then, she told me how the pressure cooker exploded which is how she and her friend were badly burned. She said the villagers were devastated and thankfully, just a week prior to their coming, someone left some prescription burn cream with the doctor closest to the village. (They actually said they were staying in the "bush"). She said she remembered she needed to take a shower immediately and honestly, I'm not sure how she did that with no running water. They bandaged her up. With a smile and bright eyes she said, "oh, it looks so much better now. You should've seen it a week ago."

I thought about how I would've freaked out, wanted to come home, especially with my parents....but there was more work for her to do....I was totally taken back by her faithfulness and the spirit in which she served.

She asked what we were doing in Ethiopia and I told her we were in the process of adopting. She said, "Tell me all about it.....so, I did. I shared about Justus and traveling to the orphanages, and how we can't wait to bring him home." She was so excited for us....This girl who had only been a stranger moments before.

I thank God for her. She is truly a blessing and she showed me what it means to serve with a joyful heart.

With Much Love,