Wanderings

Africa. My mind has been wandering to Africa. I'll smell something and a vivid memory floods back, feel the sun, close my eyes, and I could almost return. One particular image remains impressed on my mind though, and I hope it stays forever ......Every time you stepped onto the hard ground, puffs of  red, thick dust would envelope your feet. The breeze hung in the air, and the heat was sweltering. A sweet little boy grabbed my hand and gave me a heart melting smile. The little girl I was holding took out my ponytail and started running her dirty, skinny fingers through my hair. Another girl looked at me longingly as she held up some string and beads, wanting me to bead with her. "Oh Lord," I thought to myself, "You have blessed me so much, giving me the opportunity to be with these precious children of yours, and serve in this way." Suddenly a strange horn sound rung through the city. The islamic call to prayer. I turned my head towards the blue sky and saw the large, black vultures swarming through the air. The sun beat fiercely and the horn buzzed through your every thoughts. "But," I I thought to myself, "Even though this is a country cornered by islam, God is at work here! He is so very present. Thank you Jesus for this time we are here and Lord, please grant salvation to the beautiful children I am so very blessed to be with today." I let breath slowly escape my mouth and bent over to help tie somebody's balloon animal. I pulled a little friend onto the swing with me, and some little boys came over and pushed us. The little girl who I was beading with earlier came over and gave the picture she had just finished coloring..... Oh I miss this place. God used (and is still using) this trip to refine me. If I can serve him in Africa, I can serve him in America. I find myself failing in so many ways. As a daughter, a sister, a friend...ect. ect... But God is constantly reminding me that he loves me. I am a daughter of the King. He is refining me, and it hurts. I don't like it, but he knows what is best for me, he holds my future, and I have to trust this. He keeps the universe together, and he sees every sparrow that falls to the ground. I want to serve him. I want to share this love he's given me with others. He is the potter, I am the clay. I want to be a weak, dingy old vessel, so that I can better show off what is inside of me. The treasure, my savior and friend. And someday, in heaven I will be perfected in Him. His perfect love casts out all my fears. I can cast my worries on him and praise him for that! Oh, I love him. And I want to be more like him. He is perfect, and I am not. I sin, I stumble, I fall, ugh. But he forgives, supports and lifts up. And he teaches. He is teaching me through so many things how imperfect I am, how much I have to work on. To make myself look less important and make him my all in all. Thank you Jesus for dying for me, and rising again!! Thank you for clothing me with your righteousness and grace, saving me from an eternity apart from you.
Thanks all for listening to my mind's wanderings......
~Bugg~