Grace like rain...

Today started like any other day here in West Africa…hot and humid before the sun even got out of bed!  There had been some hints of rain since I arrived, a couple of dust storms here and there, which are the opening act in these here parts, but the star of the show was refusing to make an appearance.  

Today was different.  By tea time, the heavens opened up and it poured!  It rained until the puddles were large enough to long jump over.  It rained until there was sloppy mud to squish between your toes.  It rained enough for people to stop and smile…and to relax.  

As many of you know, this has been one heck of a year for me… saying it ‘was a doozy’ would be a HUGE understatement.  I was blessed to have many wonderful friends gather around and support me, but one friend was kind enough to take me and my brokenness into her home (!), giving me a safe place to begin the healing process.  She was also crazy brave enough to take on my wacko emotions and knock some much needed, and much (later) appreciated sanity and truth into my head!  One day when I had been back a couple of months and still having a hard time adjusting, she said that ‘a year from now you’ll look back and realize how much you have healed.’  My head believed her, but my heart couldn’t… until today.  

Today reminded me of how His grace washes over us just like rain, and it made me realize, that somewhere in the midst of all the craziness of the last year, God knew I would be ready.  Ready to return to humanity, to rekindle/repair neglected friendships, and to stick my toe back into missions and ministry...

...and so...

He invited me… a broken, ‘one-term wonder’ of a missionary who by His grace took my failings in Zim and still managed to squeak some good out of it.  

Me, who didn’t think she had anything left to offer but was still crazy enough and willing to go.  

Me, who got here and immediately, dehisced all my wounds and turned into an emotional wreck all over again. 

I may think He's a bit off His rocker for doing it, but in His infinite wisdom and promises of super power strength to carry me through... He invited me to join Him here.  He invited me… He chose... me…

So that He could pour His love, grace and mercy over me by ministering to my wounds through others that have also ‘been there, done that and got the T-shirt.’ 

So that He could provide a temporary replacement for the pharmacy tech that broke her leg. 

So that He could show His love to West Africa through physical and spiritual healing.

So that He could minster to staff that are weary and are struggling with what feels like a never ending battle to keep people alive let alone healthy.

So that He could show me that we HAVE traveled far this year...  even with all the potholes and roadblocks!

No pun intended, but isn't that just cool!  The God of the Universe took the time and made the effort to make sure I 'got' it...  and refreshed both my soul and my body in the process!  Gotta love someone who cares for us THAT much!

So... now the question is... where is He inviting you?  (If it's West Africa... make sure you pack a ray gun to kill the camel spiders!)

God bless and fambai zvakanaka!

(for those whose Shona is a little rusty... that means 'travel well!')

PS - and to my Vulcan friend... I love you... and THANK YOU!!!!!