Wednesday, January 26, 2005
I can’t believe what happened today. It hasn’t really sunk in that I have 21 people fast asleep under our roof. We are internationally outnumbered for certain. There are more people in this house speaking a foreign language than there are people speaking English. There are beds in every room in this house except the kitchen and bathroom. A total of 14 beds and over 30 blankets are currently in use. For every adult there are nearly 3 children to care for with 90% of them being under 12. And guess what, I wouldn’t have it any other way!
This family is amazing. Not at all what I had expected. The moment Father came in, the smiles didn’t stop. They are honestly the most gracious people I have experienced. These people have been traveling for over 2 days on long flights with 9 kids and they still smile? I don’t get it. The patience they have is stellar. Father is very in tune with the family. He is connected with the babies and carries them around (even when they are crying!) He loves his wife and that is obvious because he served her some pasta tonight (a cultural no-no) and he also got up with her when the baby began to cry. The oldest son, Majeni speaks very good English. He was a translator for the refugee camp they lived in for 8 years. This is a huge benefit to us and we are so grateful when this easy communication.
The most interesting response to the family was from my own children. Amber, Nate, Mike and Hope ignored social stigmas, body odor, cultural clashes, and language by immediately opening their hearts to these unknown friends. I will never forget the sound of squealing and laughter they had as they raced across the blow-up beds to tackle each other. Do you know that children have a language all their own and it definitely is not English or Swahili? Children laugh so easily with others and they don’t even have to form a word that is understood. They chase, jump and run all through our crowded house as if there is no difference between them. I envy their care-free reactions.
Today we learned that there is no place like home. Home is where I care for my family and friends. And now, home is where my family cares for their friends too.
Everyone is sleeping now. One by one they all crawled toward a bed and fell asleep. We took a step to help and it really seems a little too comfortable. Shouldn’t there be a crisis or something? Maybe that will come tomorrow! For now, I sleep also - the 21st person to find a warm bed here tonight.
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power and love!”
No comments:
Post a Comment