Witness

"We speak what we know and testify what we have seen" -John 3:11

Something I've been noticing as I've been in Guatemala...is first off, in the scope of all the need - how little I actually do each day...and yet how much is accomplished because of the presence of the Lord in me. I can work my tail off ... and yet look up and feel as though I was on the sidelines all day - watching as the glory of the Lord unfolds on, over, and through the lives He's breathed Life into. ~ I get the funniest feeling that He doesn't have me there because he can't necessarily get a certain something accomplished without me ...rather I'm there to be a privileged witness as His glory is made manifest.

A few days before my departure from Guatemala for the month of November - I went with Dick up to the coast to visit several different families - all of which had children of various special needs. Oh it was a perfect, perfect day - I love going out into the villages because it's there that you get to take in what the *real* Guatemala is. I loved the feeling of Dick and I being the only light-skinned people that we came in contact with during the whole trip ... and the coast is almost like entering an entirely different country all together. It's a place where westernization has yet to take hold. The men go around with slippers and shorts - period=) Everyone is on bikes or mopeds. The look of the people is different as well - almost Indonesian ... but not. Hard to explain - the only really description is beauty. The people are so beautiful. - They have in common though, with the rest of Guatemala -the look of being overworked, hardened by the realities they face each day, and each of them old before their time.

To me, the whole day felt as though I was walking in Jesus' footprints. It was almost surreal....humbling and powerful. It was as if I was witnessing Him in action. It's so hard to put it into words - but knowing that with every stop we made ... every conversation that we had with the different people we came in contact with...with each child I held in my arms - it was as if every part of every moment was Jesus - Jesus in the faces that I saw...Jesus in the smiles and tears...Jesus in the actions of loving and serving... Jesus in the fellowship with each other ... I'd never been to those homes - never seen those faces ... or heard the voices - but they were as dear and familiar to me as they would be had I grown up around them...it was a feeling like the one I'd expect to have going to the places Jesus was while here on earth ... that kind of wowed "this is incredible ...Jesus has so totally walked the place where I'm standing right now!"
Familiar in the same way that His voice is in my life. The familiar that goes soul deep and warms you from the deepest parts of your being. I've walked after the Lord for a long time ... *smile* ...at least I've tried. But to walk with Him ... to experience Him with such realness ... to realize just how much of Him I witness on a daily basis - it's kind of thrown me. I realize that to be a Believer ... to see, hear, and do in His name ... are simply ways to witness Him at different angles, each more beautiful than the last. To walk through each moment, recognizing that every time my heart gets stabbed with pain for Alex ...I'm witnessing a glimpse of His grief, not only for Alex - but for what must be millions of children that I don't even know exist...but that He carries - in the palm of His hand. And when I laugh as Robbie tries to throw a punch at me ..Mr tough stuff...or when I wrestle with Moi and we delight in each other's company - I witness a glimpse of the joy He takes in all of His beloved children. When I look in shock at the living conditions of the families that Dick and I visited that day ... houses that

that looked no different than the "forts" my brothers and I would build in the woods growing up - made of tin and plastic - nothingness. Literally. Nothingness. My heart breaks - and I witness His heart of compassion as he brings a incredibly humble man who's heart He has broken on behalf of a hurting people - bearing medicine, food, and an encouraging word. And...as I come back to the place and people I've called home for 24 years - hungry for encouragement and fellowship, I witness His presence in the body of Believers I am blessed to call my church family. And as all of them hungry to hear... all of them wanting to know how to pray ... many asking about the kids by name. .... I witness the fellowship we have because of Him. And in my own dear family ... I can't get over how blessed I have been!!! - To be surrounded once more by my closest friends - my little ones - each a different shade of beautiful ..... I look at them - and witness His beautiful story of redemption and life and hope and fire and purpose.

He is such beauty to witness ... all on His own - without any help from us - His heart for people is an honor to see and experience. Who are we that He should see fit to include us? Who are we that He should take such care and joy to fill us with His marvelous Life? We are privileged. We are here to "know and testify what we have seen" - may we not rest until all we know and come in contact with - hear about this glorious, beautiful God of love - who paid for our life ....with His death.

For as long as I shall live

I will testify to love

I'll be a witness in the silences

when words are not enough

With every breath I take

I will give thanks to God above

For as long as I shall live

I will testify to love

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