Notes from Mozambique 3

From Evernote:

The brush burning near our work site sent huge plumes of smoke into the air. Fro

The brush burning near our work site sent huge plumes of smoke into the air. From the trenches, where I was busy slathering concrete onto bricks, I almost got the crackling sound confused with the sound of rain drops on a roof. I never knew fire and rain sounded so alike.  Two very different elements, and I almost mistook one for the other.

I do this to people, too.  In any given meeting, encounter, or conversation, we get hints and insights into the core of who a person is.  Sometimes appearances can be decieving.  Sometimes we get fire and water confused. 

I've been reminded that there are very bad people in our world.  I look around Mozambique and am reminded of how this country came to be one of the poorest in the world.  People made bad decisions. People abused power and wealth and opportunity.  But bad people are rarely obviously "evil."  They don't (usually) try to conquer the world.  They're just people who put themselves before others.  It seems harmless, really.  But those small decisions leave the world worse off.  They sound like raindrops...

It's very difficult to know who someone really is at their core.  This is why Jesus taught us, "you'll know them by their fruits."  When in doubt, look up. It's easy to tell the difference between burning fire and falling rain - when your eyes are open.

Notes from Mozambique 2

From Evernote:

Gondola

As we drove away, I noticed a pattern in every wave, every smile: someone had shown these people love before.  We were able to laugh and play with these people because they knew love. And while there is no escaping the labels, we are seen as people, not objects.

Notes from Mozambique 1

From Evernote:

Mozambique

There's not much of a difference between us. The things the Mozambiquen people need are the things we all need: hope- reconciliation after conflict. Safety for our families. Work. Enjoyment. Friends. Hope in spite of disease and death and loss. We're not better. We've just got fancier things. We're still looking for the same basic desires.
The basic question, then, is "do we choose others of ourselves? Does strength and selfishness win, or sacrifice and sensitivity?"

We're all running around like ants, whether we're gathering in the middle of a field, or typing in a cubicle.