Her main question: Where did I see Jesus in Africa? Her answer:
- I saw Jesus in tiny, emaciated babies dying of AIDS
- I saw Jesus in children who were thrilled to see thier own faces in a photo for the first time.
- I saw Jesus in childcare workers who put in 24 hour shifts caring for limp, dying infants
- I saw Jesus in students who wear backpacks made of discarded popcorn bags
- I saw Jesus in widows trying to learn a skill to avoid prostitution
- I saw Jesus in children with no toys, no school supplies, and no hope
- I saw Jesus in women at wells carrying polluted water long distances all day long
- I saw Jesus in the eyes of a desperate mother who could not find health treatment for her child
- I saw Jesus in endless lines of children waiting to recieve deworming pills
- I saw Jesus in destitute families who chose to share their food with strangers like me
- I saw Jesus in a church elder who prayed for years to have the small, inexpensive Bible I gave him.
- I saw Jesus in 13 year old girls who reluctanty sell their bodies to pay expenses to go to high school.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Where have you seen Jesus this week? What can you do to give Jesus food, drink, or clothing?
I would like to contribute more to the well project but hesitate to leave big cash in the well in the Narthex. I wonder if we could have envelopes at the well marked for the well project that people could take, put money in and place in the offering baskets?
ReplyDeleteVery inspiring message and am chomping at the bit to do more! Keep telling it Beth!!!!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I wasn't able to be at church to hear Beth's account of Africa first hand, but I know one place where Jesus was in Africa while she was there because I saw him in her eyes when she came back and talked about her experiences. I bet the people there saw him in her eyes too.
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