Honestly, the past week or so has been about perserverance. Particluarly knowing that there is joy ahead and my faith is being purified by fire (1 Peter 1:3-12). I read again a message/email that my brother and amazing friend John sent me, about being pushed to my end, but seeking God's heavenly storehouses of energy and encouragement. I am learning more and more from experience that growing in relationship and intimacy with God not an easy process. Like I said, purification by fire.
There is a song called "Home" that I like to listen to. It's this guy and girl singing to each other how home is wherever and whenever they are with the other person. My recent time here in Kenya, my heart is almost torn between the comforts and relationships of home (in the US) and being here, where God has called me to. But Jesus and I are working through it together and I'm speaking over myself, "Home is whenever and wherever I'm with you Jesus".
On Saturday we played the street kids aka street MEN again in football. After our 6-2 loss last week, we bounced back with a 5-0 win, with a hat trick from my boi Josh Alholm. My heart has been particularly led to our ministry with the street kids. The street kids are dudes, age from 8 or so to around 23. They live on the street, most dont have families, they have about two pairs of clothes, some only one. They all, excluding one kid, sniff glue all the time and also use other drugs, but most are too expensive. It's heartbreaking. I know somewhat of what it's like to live a life like that, hearkening back to my high school daze haha. That's why my desire to be a father figure to them is so powerful. Last week (maybe? my understanding of time here is messed up), my teammate KelsO (kelsey) and I taught them on the prodigal son from the book of Luke. It may sound kinda cheezy, but the parable was powerful to them.
I've connected really well with a few of them. First, Benjamin (he would probably be in 5th or sixth grade)…… he had a huge gash in his toe from playing football with us the first week and I stayed with him after we left the field and made sure he cleaned his toe. It was good to hear from two other kids this past Saturday that he wasn't with us because he was back with his family. Then this past Saturday there was one guy that I called "Roma" because he always wore the same Roma football jersey, but I didnt know his real name. He had always told me some nickname that I didnt understand (they give each other nicknames from sniffing glue). I asked Cornell (who is the church leader of the street kid ministry) what his name was, so Cornell called him over. He told Cornell that him and me were friends ("Rafiki") 🙂 He again told us his nickname, them Cornell was like, "No, what is your real name?" And he tells us….. it's Andrew. First of all, in that moment, it was like he was no longer a kid living on the street, sniffing glue, he was a brother and a friend in a more intimate way, because I knew his true name. Second of all, because his name is Andrew, and one of my greatest friends, brother, and spiritual leader is named Andrew. African Andrew even has a very circular face and round cheeks like Andrew Hudgins. It was a sweet moment haha.
