Does God punish children for the sins for their fathers?

Does this Deuteronomy passage speak only to the Israelites of the Old Testament?  Or is there some string of truth for the world today?

While we were going evangelizing a few days ago, a 10-year-old girl named Flo approached me.  She asked me to pray for her baby brother.  Thinking she simply wanted me to pray blessings over him, I easily agreed.  However, I was not prepared for what I experienced next.  Flo brought me to her one-year-old brother who was completely covered in open soars.  Our translator said that the child was afflicted by an advanced case of AIDS.  With tears filling my eyes, I laid hands on this precious life and prayed my hardest for an instant healing for the boy.  I knew he did not have long to live.  After praying, Flo asked me to go pray for her house.

When we arrived at the hut, Flo’s mother was sitting under a rundown hut, smoking a pipe and cutting vegetables.  When I saw her it was like I ran into a brick wall.  I knew instantly that the spirit of witchcraft had a huge hold over this household.  I began speaking to Flo’s mother with my normal evangelism opening. “Hi, we are from the States, we believe in Jesus and that is why we are hear.”  She instantly interrupted me and said she did not want to hear anything about Jesus, but we could pray for her kinds, that was all.  Ignoring that remark, I told the woman that we would pray in the name of Jesus for healing and explained that He is the only true power on Heaven and Earth.  I told her that Jesus loved her so much and wanted to set her free.  She quickly responded that she was demon possessed and that she worshiped demons.  She said she did not want to be free and she certainly didn’t want Jesus.  Then she told us again to pray for her kids.

I watched as hopeful little Flo placed her hands on her baby brother and joined us for praying for his healing.  I could feel the desperation in the girl.  She was desperate for an act of God.  Even though we were filled with faith, the Lord chose not to heal instantly in that moment.  I prayed for Flo and told her that she was completely loved by God.  I encouraged her to keep faith in Jesus, despite having two parents who worshipped demons.  I left the house wondering if I could have done more to encourage Flo and heal the little boy.

As I prayed I felt the Lord reveal to me that this poor child’s affliction was directly related to his mother’s practices in witchcraft.  I don’t know if she placed a curse on him, or if it was simply tied in the spiritual, but I did feel like the boy would only be healed once his mother had left her demonization practices.  This caused great distress in my mind.  Could a little baby boy really be punished for the sins of his parents?  Isn’t God merciful?  Doesn’t God want all of his children to be free?

Later that night, we showed the Jesus Film in the middle of the town.  As I sat down to pray, a small girl came up to me and asked if I would teach her songs about the love of Jesus.  Even though it was dark, I was able to recognize Flo’s hopeful eyes.  I sat and sang with her for hours as I encouraged and prayed for this powerful Christian warrior.  Even though I did not see her whole family set free, I know that Flo is going to be a powerful witness to her parents.  I am standing on faith that her little brother will be healed, and both of her parents will be set free.  I believe God is in the business of freeing people, and it is his desire to have all people come to him.

Even though I don’t have a theology worked out for a demon-possessed mother, and a baby boy dying of AIDS – I do know that God is good, he is just and he is loving – and it is in that truth that I put my trust.

In the town of Bungoma, Kenya, there are many churches.

In those churches there are many pews.

In those pews there are many Christians.

In those Christians there are very passionate hearts.

But in those hands, there are no Bibles.

The church in Bungoma is alive and well, but unfortunately, they lack resources to get Bibles into the very eager hands.  When we were doing house-to-house evangelism, I asked the pastor if there was any way we could get Bibles to the people that just accepted Christ.  One of my biggest fears is leading someone to the Lord, and then leaving them with a serious lack of discipleship.  In the much quoted Great Commission, Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations – not just converts.  So we set out to undertake the Bibles for Bungoma project.  Our contact knew of a Bible distributor in the area and told us that each Bible would cost around $8.  For two cups of Starbucks, we could make an eternal impact in the lives of Christians around the world.  So we began to rally our resources.  I am still amazed at the way the Lord moved so quickly and greatly.  In a matter of four days, three girls had raised almost $2,000!  That money bought over 190 Bibles and discipleship manuals for the wonderful people of Bungoma!!  The Lord never ceases to amaze me.

The wonderful part about this whole story is that all we did was simply put ourselves in a place of asking questions and letting the Lord respond.  I asked if Bibles were available, and God found a way to get them to Kenya.  We asked our friends, families and supporters if they wanted to invest in God’s Kingdom, and the Lord moved mightily!!  He is just so good!!  I will never forget the joy on the faces of the people who got to hold their very own Bible, in their own language.  They truly were in love with the Living Word.  I want to thank many of you who contributed to this project and rejoice that in a matter of a week, almost two thousand dollars were raised and the Bibles were distributed into the hands that desperately needed them.

Thank you for sewing into the Kingdom, and helping us disciple the nations.

** As quickly as the Bibles got to Bungoma, they were gone almost as quickly.  There is still a great need there, as well as all over Kenya and Eastern Africa, for Bibles.  If you are interested in investing $10 for the Kingdom, please contact me at JenniferLeeMitchell@gmail.com and we can get a Bible into the hands of those who need it!!  Thank you so much!

We walked up to the school and I opted to teach the older students for an hour.  We began by singing some praise songs in English, and then the students sang to us in Ugandan.  It was then that an older girl, about my size, in the front row started stepping out…I thought she was going to dance…when she suddenly collapsed on the ground…right in front of me.  Thinking she had fainted, I quickly ran to her and tried to lift her into a sitting position.  It was then that the headmaster said over my shoulder, “Pray for her, she needs deliverance.”  “What?!” I thought in my head… “We are in the middle of a school, in the middle of the day, in the middle of me being exhausted…what the heck are we going to deliver?!”  I allowed those thoughts to go through my head for about half a second before I lifted this beautiful 110-pound girl in my arms.  Martha, Lauren Williamson and I took the girl, Kadogo, under a nearby tree and began praying.  As I lay the unconscious girl on the grass I was instantly filled with compassion for this girl who was in desperate need of freedom.  I looked into her eyes, and I saw tears streaming down her face.  The teachers told me that she was demon possessed and needed deliverance.  The first thing I thought was, “I am not equipped for this.  What the heck am I supposed to pray?”  But pray I did.  We were determined to see this precious girl free.  I began to speak to the spirits of worry and fear and witchcraft and tell them to leave, and surprisingly, they did.  Kadogo went from trembling and calling to her dead ancestors to silently weeping.

Martha asked if she could say the name of Jesus, but she still could not.  So we kept praying.  We learned that she was not a Christian, and when we asked if she wanted to accept Jesus, she nodded her head.  Even though she was unable to speak, I led Kadogo in the sinner’s prayer.  I prayed as hard as I could for this precious life.  I quoted every scripture I could about freedom and new life – It was all I knew how to do.  Amazingly, at the end of the prayer, Kadogo was able to say “Jesus”.  I heard her whisper it over and over again.  She was free!!  All three of us were in utter amazement of the Lord’s good work.  God used an attack of the enemy to not only free one of his children, but give her eternal life.  God set her free!!  It was such a beautiful moment.  Still in shock that God cast demons out through us, Martha, Lauren and I could only pray and praise God for the amazing work that he did that day.  God put me in a situation where I had no idea what to do, and he again used my weakness to do miracles.  He never ceases to amaze me.  I praise Him for being so good!  He loves his children and he desires to set the captives free.

Praise God we are free.

We are free indeed.

The day just seemed like a normal day in Kenya.  We played with the children, we shared the Gospel with people, we had about four cokes at 20 cents each…and then Martha spotted her.  Sitting in a puddle of her own urine, precious little Melissa was completely alone and scared. I first introduced you to Melissa through Martha’s blog a few weeks ago.  But I want you to know the impact this precious little one has had on my life.  We simply could not pass Melissa by.  One look at her and one could tell that something was wrong.  Melissa was seven years old, but weighs only 15 pounds – about the size of a six month old.  And yet despite her physical condition she has the most infectious laughter I have ever heard.  Upon seeing Melissa, we knew that we could not just leave her alone.  We quickly took her to the first of three doctors visits and learned that she was in dire need of nutrition and physical therapy.  On top of that, she was in the care of her father, John, who spent more hours in the bar than at home taking care of his daughter.  We were at a loss of what to do.  We could not find an orphanage that could take her, and our time in Kenya was quickly drawing to a close.  We prayed fervently for a week that the Lord would provide a way for us to help this precious little life.  The day we were scheduled to leave, the pastor we were working with said that he had found a woman from the church that was willing to take care of Melissa until she was healthy.  I was nervous because I did not want to simply place her anywhere.  However, God always has an absolutely perfect plan.

Earlier that month we had done a hospital visit where we met a wonderful Christian woman named Elika.  She led us around the hospital laying hands on people and praying for them.  She has a gentle, matronly spirit about her, and I instantly liked Elika.  The day we left Kenya, the pastor brought in the woman who had volunteered to take care of Melissa, and praise God, it was Elika!  I knew instantly that God had planned all along for us to cross each others path.  He had everything absolutely ordained since before creation.

So I am happy to report that even though it has only been two weeks, Melissa is doing wonderful!  She is taking very well to physical therapy, and the nutritious diet she is on is helping her improve greatly!  Her story is so encouraging to me because we didn’t do anything special to help Melissa, we simply stopped when we saw her on the side of the road.  God orchestrated everything else absolutely perfectly.

So how do we save a life?

Simply stop for them.

And follow the path that God has already planned since the beginning of time.

This week I have completely understood what they mean by dependence.  Tim and Paul, our team leaders had to go to Kampala, the capital of Uganda to get some work done for next month.  They left Ashley Higgins, an amazing woman of God and videographer, and me in charge.  I was honored for the position, but a little worried.  I have no clue how to lead as far as AIM programming goes, much less in the bush of Africa.  Nevertheless, off Tim & Paul went, and up Ashley and I steped to lead the group of 12.  Our week was scheduled for us to travel to two different Bush towns and work with local pastors there.  We packed up on Monday and arrived late that afternoon.  After a quick meeting with the pastor, we went right into house-to-house evangelism.  Our schedule for the next few days was: Up with the sun, quick breakfast, then teaching at local schools all morning, break for lunch, then house-to-house until dinner, finally finishing the night with a crusade or a showing of the Jesus film.  Now, as excited as I was to have tangible ministry this month, I had no idea we would be having as much or as strenuous as we did.  I am learning that ministry takes a LOT out of you.  By the time lunch came around each day, we were completely exhausted….It takes a lot of energy to keep the attention of an entire elementary school.  When it came time to evangelize each day, I was completely spent.  I had literally no energy at all.  I remember the first day stuttering and stumbling over my words as I attempted to relate the Gospel to a Muslim woman.  I was completely weak.  But amazingly, it was in those moments that God did a miracle.

I was utterly spent – at the end of my own strength – after countless confusing and stressful meetings as a leader, and hours of ministry, I could no longer go on.  It was there that God met me.  I heard him say, “Lean on me Jennifer, my yoke is strong”.  This week, I learned the meaning of complete dependence.  When I have absolutely nothing else to lean on, that is when God can begin to move.  There were so many prayers prayed that I don’t remember what was said, so many people touched and I have no idea how – other than the power of God.  He worked through me when I was at my weakest.  I think he was able to truly work in the lives of others because I was no longer in the picture, I was completely set aside and all ministry was completely God.  I love that.  God wants to get us to a place where we are completely dependent on him so that He can be the one working.  I hear him whisper to us all, “Lay down your own strength, and trust Me…I am able.”

When I picture traveling evangelists, I usually imagine a bike, a crisp white shirt, and a perfectly tailored answer concerning salvation.  That, or a sweaty purple suit shouting something about fire, hell, and brimstone.  Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would become the very thing that I do not have a particularly good taste for.  In my mind, door-to-door evangelism was not only ineffective, but was intrusive, and certainly not the Lord’s plan for me.  One would think that seven months on the race would rid me of planning my own life for myself…but I guess I still have more to learn on the subject.
This month my team is in a tiny town in Uganda.  We have no electricity or water, and are camping out in our tents indoors because the bugs are just that bad.  In the midst of these conditions, my team has one directive – evangelize.  We began last week giving a whole new meaning to door-to-door evangelism, because when I say we are in a tiny town in Uganda, I mean tiny. We basically go into the bush every day and share the Good News to every hut that we encounter.   Enter: my cynical mind and skeptical spirit and you have a perfect combination for Spirit-stifling.  However, I decided at the beginning of the month that I am in Uganda doing evangelism right now because that’s what I was created to do.  God created me specifically for a purpose, and if I believe that he has good plans for me, then Uganda is part of those plans.  So I decided that no amount of doubt would prevent me from bringing Kingdom to these tiny huts in this tiny village.   We split off each day into small groups with our translators and preach the Gospel to anyone who has ears.  Each day has its own challenges – one day it’s a resistant Muslim woman, another day it is a husband preventing his wife from faith, yet another day brings translation issues – it seems like no amount of preaching will ever get done….and yet, somehow, at the end of the day, I am amazed at how many people confessed with their mouth that Jesus is Lord.  One would think that I would have learned the lesson of the simple Gospel(Insert Could It Be That Simple) back in Kenya, but I am nothing if not stubborn.

Each day God continues to show me how much he loves the people of this world.

My heart skips a beat every time I get to say with a Muslim “I believe that Jesus is God and he is the only true God”.

I am constantly amazed at the size of the harvest and vastly ashamed that the workers so few.

I grow increasingly grateful as I present the Gospel and trust that, “at that time, it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matthew 10:19).

And I am boldly walking in the promise of God, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance.” (Psalm 2:8).

Look out huts – I am evangelizing.

It was after dinner when Simone began her story.  I did not notice her much through the meal – she was a quiet girl, content to sit in the background while other people carried on the conversation.  It was only after the meal was over that I began to think that God had a bigger purpose for this quiet, beautiful young girl.  Simone, a 15-year-old girl, began telling us the story of her life with such honesty that I began feeling the emotions as she expressed them.  Simone is an orphan whose parents died when she was young.  Her aunt took her in, but did not have very much to help take care of Simone.  She lived her childhood with barely a full stomach, and always on faith for school fees.  Simone ended up being brought to church, and it was there that she first heard the Gospel. She quickly received and fell in love with Jesus.  She is very active in church and in her youth group.  However, at home she was constantly battling the enemy.  Her uncle is a witchdoctor, and would constantly try to curse her.  Though Simone is a Christian, I could see the fear in her eyes as she remembered evil spirits tormenting her at night.  I asked her what her burdens are and she shared about fear from her uncle and the struggle to get her school fees paid for.  She shared with me her dream of becoming a lawyer, but her doubt that she could do it because of finances.  I found out later that her school costs the equivalent of $135 for an entire year of high school.  One hundred and thirty-five dollars is the only thing that is standing between this precious girl and her dream.

The next day, our team prayed and pooled our resources and decided that we would pay for Simone’s school this year.  So Martha and I hopped on motorcycles to the girls’ school about 30 minutes away.  I then watched a quiet, small girl blossom right in front of me.  It was like a huge rock had been lifted off of her.  I watched as Simone jumped up and down and smiled bigger than her face could hold.  She was elated.  Words cannot express the joy that was in the room at that moment.

It was then that I began thinking about the situation from an eternal perspective.  It was almost like I could see God doing the same thing for us.  As sinners, we deserve nothing at all.  Our sins compile debts that we could never repay.  We were suffering and dying under the weight of it all.  Then Jesus came and completely paid our debts in full.  Now we get to live in freedom, free from that bondage and burden.  Praise God that our debts are paid in full!

And the best part is, that God removed our debts, not because of any merit of our own, but because he loves us that much.  My team was overwhelmed with love for Simone after meeting her just once.  We knew we had to do something to help her.  How much more so does God love us and want to give good gifts to his children!!  Best of all, he paid a debt that he did not owe, so we could be free – We are paid in full.

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I spotted her from a distance sitting in the sun all alone. Right away I could tell something was not right. I approached the little girl to find her sitting in her own urine, bottomless wearing only a torn, dirty shirt. She was so, so tiny. I bent down to touch her. All I knew to do was call on the name of Jesus in desperation. Her body so frail and little, I thought she was maybe between 1 and 2. Who is this little girl? Why is she all alone? Wanting to know about her we asked around the area trying to find answers to this little girl’s situation. Soon after, her father came summoned by some neighbors. We find out her name is Melissa and she is seven years old. Her mother abandoned her and her father is not able to provide the food she needs. She is literally starving to death. Later on, in desperation, I called my mother in tears, telling her about the little girl I met. She reassured me to do what ever it took to save this little girl, no matter what. So the next morning we went to where she lives, finding her sitting all alone once again, we asked her father, John, if we could take her to the doctor, he picked her up and to the doctor we went. Phillip, John, Melissa and I piled into the doctor’s office. There the doctor asked John questions.

Melissa was born a healthy baby, no health problems or complications. But due to a lack of food and nourishment her development and growth was stunted. Malnutrition caused mental and physical retardation. She can’t speak, her only words are papa, her cry is a high-pitched whimper, and she is too weak to walk on her own. Never have I seen what a lack of nutrition can do to someone’s development. Born into such poverty, the father talked of nights she slept outside in the cold. To ease the hunger pains the father admitted to giving her alcohol because that was so cheap and all there was. The doctor said she is an extreme case of malnutrition and the best thing to do is to get her into a facility where she will be taken care of and fed. He said that this is a social problem more than anything, and for her long term health it was best to get her out of her father’s care since he isn’t able to provide and into a children’s home where she can get nursed back to health. When those words were translated into Swahili for the father to understand I watched as tears welt up in his eyes and ran down his face. I will never forget the look of pure, hopeless desperation on that father’s face. This was not my purpose. I did not want to separate the child from her father. My mind and heart was racing in that doctor’s office. My heart was torn. Do we take this little girl from the only thing she has, her father who she loves to make sure she is fed and won’t starve to death? But in this facility will she feel love from the staff? Which is more important, food or love? Although it clearly pained him, the father said he is willing to give his child up so she can be taken care of and nursed back to health. It wouldn’t be permanent, but until she recovers and the father can come for her when he can show he can provide for her.

The doctor said that although she probably will never be 100% better because she is so far behind in development, with proper care and nutrition she will definitely improve. But my God is the ultimate Healer and Provider and nothing is impossible for Him! After the doctor’s visit I invited them to come eat some of our lunch. I loaded up rice on a plate and a banana and gave it to the man. He sat his daughter on the ground and put the plate in front of her. I will never forget the way that little one grabbed that food and continually shoved it into her mouth with her little fingers. She devoured the banana and almost the whole plate of rice, until we took it away so she wouldn’t get sick from eating so much. I also prepared a plate for the father and his was gone in a matter of seconds. Clearly neither of them have eaten for days. I went back to talk with the doctor to see how much we owed for the visit. He told me we owe him nothing, and he thanked me for our concern and love for the people of Kenya. Praise God! To satisfy the immediate needs of food and nourishment Phillip and I took John and Melissa shopping for some food. We stopped at a few market stands and the grocery store.

During our walk I wanted John to understand that this wasn’t being done out of pity, that he wasn’t just a charity case, but it was because of the love of Jesus. Everything was Jesus. Jesus loves him so much and wants him and his daughter taken care of. Once we got all of the food, fruits and vegetables and supplies they would need for a while, we walked back to his house. I had sweet Melissa in my arms as we walked, and she just rested her little head on my shoulder. You could tell she didn’t see the outside world much, as she was scared of the people on bikes and occasional cars that would go by. People stared and gawked at us walking, and I just cradled her in my arms and covered her head with my hand, trying to show that she was ok and safe in my arms. We got to his house and he invited me in because he wanted me to pray for him. I walk in to his house, a mud hut, all that fit in it was a spring bed frame with some ripped up foam pieces on it and a tiny walking space in between the length of the bed and the wall. The smallest room/house I have ever seen.

When we were in the house I asked him what he wanted prayer for. Phillip told me he wants to know and experience this Jesus mentioned earlier. So there in his little room of a house I walked him through prayer and he confessed to wanting and needing Jesus as tears built up in his eyes and ran down his face. He is coming to church on Sunday and on Friday we are bringing him a bible! Amidst the tragedies, the poverty, these heart wrenching situations I DECLARE that my God is good, He is faithful, He is sovereign, He is Love, He is compassionate, He cares, and He works all things for good. Today His son came home. And tomorrow is in His hands. We don’t know what to do, but God knows exactly the right steps to take. God reveal your will for us and your will for your precious daughter. Please keep Melissa and John in your prayers. God bless you.

“And the King will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” ~Matthew 25:34-36

As I was walking back to the clinic where we stay, I passed by children who don’t have shoes or pants…little boys no older than 10 begging for their next meal…sick people who cannot afford a doctor…lonely hearts without any hope.

And then it hit me…

Simply, Jesus is all around me!

I think so often we Christians like to think the Bible is more confusing than it actually is. We like to think that what the Bible actually says isn’t what it actually means. We do think so we don’t actually have to do anything about the great need that surrounds us. We use phrases like, “Don’t give a man a fish, teach him to fish” as our mantra. Our great excuse. But Jesus didn’t say, “When I was naked, you taught me how to sew.” Dear friends, there is such a great need all around us. Jesus even told his disciples that the poor we will always have among us. They are God’s heart. The lost, the poor, the sick, the broken – They are God’s heartbeat. They are Jesus.

God is calling us to a simple life. When we see someone hungry – feed them. Visit those in prison. Give clothes to people who don’t have them. How can we ever profess to love Jesus if we are unwilling to get out of our comfortable lives and clothe ourselves with the scent of poverty?

So I set out to begin living life with the eyes of helping Jesus. I never want him to say that I didn’t give him food when he was hungry. Here in Bungoma, the need is great – at times it seems overwhelming, but God is greater! So Martha, Ashley and I set our minds to always stop for the one…to look at everyone with the eyes of Christ…to not be so consumed with schedules that we pass someone by…and to seek God in every situation. We have been trying to live this way for only a week, but we have such incredible Kingdom stories so far!! I cannot wait to share these experiences with you.

May we each strive to live the Simple Life. May we not be so focused on our own plans for the day that we miss what God is leading us to. May we be willing to sacrifice our time, our money, our possessions for Jesus. There is always someone who needs the Jesus in us. May we be available so Kingdom can come on this earth!

I decided to watch the Kenya section this morning, I knew what would happen today and I wanted to see it with my own eyes. It is ALWAYS such a beautiful sight… words will never do it justice…BUT I will try.

We all know the ending to the day but even so, it is marvelous to watch it unfold. We have been waiting for Martha, Jenn, and Ashley to visit homes in Bungoma for their entire existence.  And we know that Morrine, Beva, and Hadeja are in the last house they will visit.   Our Jesus has already prepared the way and there is a crowd of angels surrounding their house and when you look around the heavens you can see the crowd of angels peering over the balcony of Heaven.

I can feel all of our hearts start to beat faster and in unison as they approach the house of these 3 girls.

They walk in and pour out the words of Jesus Christ to these women. We all marvel at Jenn as she explains who Jesus is and what He came to do and once again, we marvel at Jesus and His plan.

This moment starts with Morrine…and just as Jenn says the words “if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord…” we feel the YES in Morrine’s heart come out of her mouth. Without even waiting for the end of the word to be verbalized…a celebration begins.

OH IF YOU COULD ONLY SEE IT!

It is a music that is nowhere else found in the universe…. extraordinary colors seem to dance about the heavens, new instruments and songs are played. It is a sound so loud that if you were to hear it out of context it would be too loud to endure…but because you know a child just ran home to the FATHER…it is perfectly fitting. The sound that erupts within us is echoed out before us.

ALL IN PRAISE TO THE KING OF KINGS!!

It echoes throughout the vast expansion of the heavens that ALL may know that Christ is Lord. There is a holy uproar. Choirs start, joy is made anew, hope shines forth with a GLORIOUS light pointing to our Creator.

And I know the other two girls are about to feel the Yes. I watch as Phillip talks to them saying even if you are Muslim, you can still accept Christ and that He loves them…

Then I feel it.

I really feel it.

I cannot explain to you how it feels.

In human terms, I figure it can best be described, as losing a child, but first investing everything you have in them. EVERYTHING. Only to lose them, almost in an instance and for years you pray. ON YOUR KNEES. You sweat blood. You can sense that they are alive. But you have yet to find them. And you pray more. You pray continually. And then….one day when you feel something in your heart and you can’t explain it. And it causes you to jump up and run out of the door. And there RUNNING to you is your child. Imagine that celebration. And that…is a worldly, unexciting version in comparison to the celebration that happens in Heaven.

Just as I feel it, I know that celebration number 2 happens as Hadeja and Beva confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord.

It is a glorious celebration again. Yet it feels, as it always does, like the first time.  Like the first time we witnessed a child of God running home. And the light from the heavenly realm is SO glorious that it pierces the cloud cover and actually places itself on Kenyan soil. The music is heard high and low as we rejoice over the 3 women that have come home.

And that is only a tiny glimpse of what actually happened today. English will never be able to develop words that can explain to you how it really went down, or what the music actually sounded like, or how splendid the colors that danced around actually looked like.

And what is even more glorious is…..

This is just the beginning…