True Joy

Operation Christmas Child Distribution - B. Dargel

I am nearly a month in now, and time has flown by. My days have become numbered by routine: another Tuesday pizza night down, another Wednesday at the children's home (CCC), another Thursday game of Ultimate, another Friday end-of-the-week report uploaded in the accounting system - you get the point. But every now and then, a moment occurs that stands apart from the rest and keeps the notion of a typical work week in suspension.

Within the past two weeks, the recurring themes of happiness and joy intertwined with stories of suffering - a combination that often goes hand in hand here. Despite the countless number of lessons and observations that have also left an impression on me from my time here, I think this idea sticks out the most.

The Operation Christmas Child Distribution certainly falls under the topic of happiness. The entire room was filled with pure joy as we watched a remarkably small stack of boxes somehow multiply into the hands of each child in the room. Granted, you still see the unfortunate kid who ended up with the practical gift let out a half-hearted smile of appreciation, or the mom who swears her kid only got one box shove two under her chair, but the overwhelming sea of laughter quickly drowned out these minute faults. Overall, the event was perfect.  

Reading at CCC - Confident Children out of Conflict FB Page

This week, my co-worker and I decided to try something different with the girls at CCC. The girls really wanted us to bring nail polish with us to paint their nails, so we came up with an even better idea. After returning week after week for a month now without really being able to explain to the girls why we come to see them, the idea of finding a way to serve them seemed a good opportunity to build deeper relationships. We decided to prepare a small bible study to tell the story of when Jesus washed the disciples feet and then do the same for them. These are girls who have been taken off the streets with testimonies that leave them scarred, literally. Their feet are covered in dirt and blistered. Yet, I am so thankful for every second of it. In that moment we were able to spend time with each girl individually, serve her, listen to her, and pray for her; the walls were coming down. There's something just awkward and personal enough about washing someone's feet that forces some vulnerability :) After we washed their feet we painted their toenails and then ran around outside barefoot to play for a while, ensuring the proper layer of dirt had returned before finishing the night playing on the drums.  Despite everything they have been through, these girls were HAPPY. 

Now, I'm not usually the optimist. In fact, I'm often far from it...but I can't think of a better song of praise than one that comes from a heart of brokenness. 

A few days ago I met a man named Bashir who sums up this thought perfectly.  He has been unemployed, beaten, imprisoned, and tortured for his faith living in Sudan and other Islamic cultures - and yet he still returns to his home there because he loves the people. He told countless stories of converted Muslims who lost everything for choosing to follow Christ. Their decision process looks so different than it does for many of us - they knowingly give up the customer loyalty that keeps their businesses operating, they give up friends, they give up their culture and traditions, some even give up their family. And yet when we lose a family member our faith shatters. Hear me out - this is not a comparison of loss; I don't believe that is something that can be compared. However, I believe it is noteworthy that our faith and joy amidst these circumstances looks drastically different. 

Simply because we didn't bargain away our jobs, friends, or family to be a believer does not insinuate we ever had control over them in the first place. Rather, despite the lack of control we hold, we have a God who remains constant and stable. That is what allows us to believe despite circumstances. That is where we find joy.