This summer we got to visit the rural village Kamuli once again. Here is where we stayed for 3 days last year, serving the community there and seeing God’s reconciliation take place in front of our very own eyes. I want to share a story that tears my heart. I want to share this story because it is terrible, and should prompt someone to give their life to end this pain.
I want to start by talking about Genesis 1. I have learned this in my Genesis class this past school year even on both of my internships. We are revealed that God creates a hospitable world. He creates a space where humans can grow in. His kids are able to thrive in this environment because it has all the necessary components to help them develop into his image. And the revelation is that since we are his children, we must be involved in creating hospitable environments for kids as well.
This is not the case in Kamuli. The morning we had breakfast as a team, we left a lot of crumbs on tables. We often use a lot of salt on the side so we can add it to some of the food items we have. On this morning, after we had finished breakfast, the table we used was left a little messy. And one of the jobs I have this summer is to be in charge of our teams safety and security. So like I usually do, I was walking around the church and property making sure no one was trying to take our items or treating people wrong. As I turned the corner of the church, I saw the worst visual of my life.
3 hungry children. They were all huddled around the table we used for breakfast, and together they were licking the crumbs of salt off the table. All I could think about was crying. These kids were so hungry, that it pushed them to behave like animals. They are not living the human experience God intended, but instead they are subject to act like animals to survive. As I watched them, I had to stop myself from crying. I realized I never could live with myself if I let them continue to lick salt off tables like animals. They have not let my mind since.
I think anyone with a good heart knows this is sickening. The thing is, what am I going to do about it? How will my life be an attempt to rectify this type of injustice being done on precious souls? A country so rich with resources… still has starving children. I made the resolve to continue in developing my ability to teach God’s kids. My role is to help the Lord in his work of creating a hospitable environment for precious kids to be raised in. To know who he is. Those three kids… I never got to know their names. I never got to know their stories and where they came from. But I do know this, God sees them and loves them. My prayer is that I remember them for my life, and give my life as a sacrifice for kids like them all over the world.