Living Stones

A flat tire.

A traffic ticket violation by our taxi driver as we went to breakfast.

These two incidents delayed our arrival at Toeghin. When we finally arrived at the clinic, we observed a short line of stones and a plastic bottle. This, we were told, marked somebody's place among the many people standing in line or, in queue.

This temporal substitution of stones for a flesh and blood being immediately brought to mind 1 Peter 2:4-5:

“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. “(ESV)

Our living stones (patients) were wisely waiting in the shade.

The day had begun with our minds preoccupied with details, and patients and organization. Later though, I was struck by the “Living Stones” that built our spiritual day into an acceptable sacrifice.

Our interpreter, Karim, echoed the theme as he shared with us his story. When he was young his mother became very sick with a problem with her ears. His Muslim family encountered a Christian who prayed for her and she was miraculously healed. Karim’s father, while remaining a Muslim himself, insisted that his wife and children become Christians in order to assure their health and safety. The fruit of this is Karim himself, who has selflessly served our doctors and nurses tirelessly throughout the day. And the light in his eyes testifies of Jesus.

At times I think our African brothers know more worship songs in English than I do. Rarely does a half hour pass without some songs, hymns or spiritual songs echoing across the clinic, many times by our interpreters who learned the songs during their English studies.

Doctor Dora Leon is walking out her own living sacrifice today. Feeling ill and dizzy, possibly from her malaria prevention medicine, she pressed on throughout the day. She, Dr. Steve Nelson and Dr. Xavier Sanchez treated 115 patients, despite our late start.

The colorful parachute flapped with the joy of the children’s smiles. As we walked through the area, we found our partners praying and chatting with local Muslims about Jesus. It only takes a small imagination, great partners and the Power of the Kingdom to see a line of stones flowing out the gate of the clinic at Toeghin and across the Sahel of Burkina Faso into eternity.

As one of the songs echoing today said:

Let it be, Lord Jesus, let it be.

High Heels and Motorcycles

Throughout Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso, women in beautiful dresses and shiny high heeled shoes ride motorcycles for transportation. Many times they ride double with a friend or family member and additional cargo or children.

Dresses and high heels may not be the ideal clothing for motorcycling, but it works. Three-inch heels locked over the pegs on a motorbike don’t tend to slip, and somehow the women gracefully straddle the bikes without hiking up their skirts.

This, I think, may be a great metaphor for ministry in Africa. My cultural eyes look and see an unlikely mix of dress clothes and motorcycles. But Africans, in this case the Burkinabe (the name for the people of Burkina Faso), make it work with grace and ease.

This is just like ministry partnership at its finest. Our HCJB Global Hands team wanders in jet- lagged and in a cultural daze, yet with hearts to help and serve. Surely, we stick out like high heels on a motorcycle. Yet our African partner steers us in the right direction, connects us with the right helpers and surrounds us with great people and puts us in great places. All of this is done with the same grace and ease and surprising agility that allows the women here to climb on a motorcycle with a dress on.

And away we go…