April 20
Just Show Up!
Just returned from 3 weeks in Zambia and South Africa. Learned some more very important lessons. Here is one. There is a link to a photo at the bottom.
I went to see the movie Soul Surfer last week with my mom and Sandy and our niece. It is the story of a young championship surfer named Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a violent attack by a large Tiger shark in Hawaii. I loved the movie and the message. But I have to admit that one of my favorite parts of the experience was during the scene that depicted the shark attack. My mom was sitting next to me and I could tell by the music and tenor of the movie that the shark attack was imminent. I was softly warning those sitting near me that it was about to happen. Didn’t matter! In a flash, via Hollywood’s finest gimmickry, the shark appeared and … well, took not only Bethany’s arm but also the breath and life out of my mom, who, did I mention, was sitting right next to me. I thought I was going to lose my arm as she jolted in her seat and grabbed for anything that could provide a sense of safety. Exhilarating!
I recommend the movie highly. The brief shark scene might be a little much for younger ones (and older ones) but the message is clear and inspiring.
One of my other favorite parts in the movie most may have missed. It was a very simple scene when, after Bethany had lost her arm and was attempting a comeback to surfing, a good friend is offering her encouragement. Bethany replies to her friend’s presence with a phrase which, when understood and lived out, can change the world. In fact I use it often with mission teams as a form of inspiration and encouragement. Bethany thanked her friend for, “Just showing up consistently in her life.”
It is amazing to learn what people think they have to do when they go on a Global Outreach team. Everyone has ideas of some grand and glorious work or task that must be accomplished. And while we never take our tasks or projects or objectives lightly, the most powerful message we bring and the most important thing we do is “show up!” When we “show up” in a community highly populated by orphans, it brings a sense of value and meaning and importance to an often “forgotten” caste of people.
Being “there” is better than being talented or being smart or being clever or rich or really anything else; because being “there” is what matters most. And being there regularly; consistently is what begins to change our worlds; theirs and ours. And being there is something anyone can do!
This was made very real to me last week in South Africa. I was there with two teams. One team had been in a village facilitating a Children’s VBS ministry for the first two days. The team I was with had been conducting a student retreat with African and North American students at the lodge where we stayed.
After the student retreat ended, I took the retreat team to the village where the other team was ministering. Because of some very heavy rains that week we had to park our bus a distance away from the VBS site and walk in. When we were about half way to the site some of the children who knew me from previous teams could see us coming. Immediately they all jumped up and began running towards us to welcome us, shouting, “Jambo is here! Jambo is here!” Jambo is one of the names the kids call me. That is another story. The kids swarmed us and escorted us all back to the ministry site as they jumped and sang excitedly. (See photo link below)
It was one of the most meaningful expressions of love I have ever experienced. Quite simply, it is the result of “just showing up” regularly and consistently.
I thank you for encouraging and empowering Sandy and I to take teams to places like that and change the world for children who desperately need someone to “show up in their lives.”
If you’re interested in “showing up” with us this summer in Capetown or Uganda check out our website at horizoninternationalinc.com/goteams and let me how I can help.
Dance with God
Douge’ (Jambo)
Link to photo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/northviewpics/5621958429/
