One night nearly five years ago I had a dream. I only remember bits and pieces of it but that it probably because I was only supposed to remember one piece of it.
For the first time and for the only time in my life I dreamt that someone – I don’t know that I ever knew who – was showing me a Bible chapter to read. The chapter mattered, I sensed, because it pertained to stuff that I was supposed to do – to a calling perhaps. I don’t really know.
Anyway, I woke up and thought about the specific book and the specific chapter and thought that I didn’t really want to go look it up because I was afraid that it didn’t exist. After all, the chapter number I recalled was high – 61. I knew not many books of the Bible had 61 chapters.
So I waited a few days and then I looked… a bit sheepishly… a bit casually… kind of flipping through to find the book and then flipping through to see how many chapters it had.
It turned out that the book had more than 61 chapters because the book was Isaiah. The 61st chapter, though I didn’t really know it as well at the time, was the book from which Jesus preached his first sermon.
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
As I reflected on the dream and on the passage I could only conclude that part of what God wanted from me was to do what Jesus said he had come to do – to help the poor and the brokenhearted and the captives. And I also knew that I had to go to sub-Saharan Africa. I’d thought of going before but at that moment I knew I had to go.
The thought wasn’t necessarily a comforting one. After all, I’d been through a brain tumor and had small seizures and was very comfortable in my comfortable world. Going to that part of Africa seemed to be something that might be a step too far – a bit radical.
But as time passed I longed to go. I longed to go for numerous reasons. I was increasingly drawn there. I knew I needed to see outside my world and though I had traveled extensively in the past – including to South Africa – I knew this would be categorically different. Then, as I started chemo, and went through my own dance on the outskirts of suffering, I wanted to go because I wanted – selfishly – to put my own challenges into proper perspective. There is real suffering in the world and mine was not genuinely part of it.
Then came this opportunity to go… to see the work being done by Compassion International - their child survival programs and their HIV/AIDS work. There was a friend now living and working in Uganda. There was the fact that a dear friend had lived there for years and another friend had visited. It seemed the perfect place to go…
…and this morning I am going.
I go with expectation – not unlike Red at the end of the Shawshank Redemption …hopeful …excited …a bit anxious.
I don’t know what the next five or six or seven days holds. But I am ready for the journey.
posted February 11, 2008 at 1:57 am
Health and safety to you, David! I checked w/ my nephew – he was at a place called Gulu (spelling? and I have no idea where it is in Uganda)
posted February 11, 2008 at 6:09 am
Best wishes, and come home safe after your odyssey.
posted February 11, 2008 at 6:59 am
Everywhere Christians gather here in the US to praise and worsip together, outreach groups like Compassion International are allowed to talk to them. As a Californian that goes to Spirit West Coast (which is a K-Love and Compassion International outreach), I was inundated by the C-P message. Musicians: Peter Furler, Mac Powell, Dan Hazeltine, Steven Curtis Chapman, Nichole Nordemen, Michael. W. Smith, Toby Mac, David Crowder, etc., etc., they all point to the same direction: Helping others.
For those that do not know about “Contempory Christian Music,” and think that its a copy of something secular, the concerts and festivals have tens of thousands of people rocking out and jumping around during most concerts which looks quite common. Then all music and dancing stops and any and all musician stop whatever concert they are performing in to talk us about why and what we gathering for. It wasn’t to “rock the house,” it was for fellowship together and praising the God of Salvation. The whole thing turns quiet, reflecting prayer and thanksgiving. The message of the Gospel is always the center of attention. Then the returning music takes on its proper role.
And also, the message about the poor, the needy, the suffering, is front and center of every stage and venue at the music festival. It took awhile, but I went by the Compassion booth in the big tent mall setup for the Christian “products” offered there. But there is far more than just “things” or “stuff,” in a Christian mall. It is always about helping someone else.
My wife and I looked through the photo/info cards strewn all over the Compassion International tables. One child’s story leapt out to us. I hope and pray that the money we send in every month, since learning about him, is truly being of help to him.
Please let us know David, if it is.
I have been working with disadvantaged youth here in America for two-decades, and without exception, every single one of them would be considered rich to the children of Compassion International. One thing is always told to them about the starving and hurting children in Africa. They don’t have the time to care. We do.
David,
Please bring back with you, not only stories, but communication. Bring back a piece of the real people you meet and the real children that will forever be a part of your heart. Tell us how our (pitifully few) dollars that we send in each month, is really being used for them. Tell us that our hearts have a part of the emptiness filled in, even if it’s just a bit.
Bring us back the hugs and smiles of the people that think $32.00 a month is a great sacrifice and a beautiful gift. In all honesty, I know its trivial and I wish I could do more. But knowing that you are really going to be with these beautiful people, is a gift unto itself. To my wife and I.
God Bless you David.
May the Lord keep you in His care.
posted February 11, 2008 at 11:23 am
It’s going to rock your world and change what you think you know about poverty, foreign aid, death, and grace. Have a great trip.
posted February 11, 2008 at 11:52 am
My students are praying for you this week. We’re having a pizza lunch Friday to make money to send to one of the AIDS orphanages. Have four students who have been or are going on missions to Africa. I’m jealous. Don’t think I can make it physically, but will be with all of them in my heart. Bless you on the journey and in the experience. Such events are too big to be told.
posted February 11, 2008 at 2:10 pm
So excited for you, David. I’m following the trip on Shaun Groves’ blog as well…looking forward to hearing your stories.
posted February 11, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I’m almost as excited as if I were going myself.
posted February 11, 2008 at 5:36 pm
You will be stretched beyond what you can imagine…and God will meet you there. I look forward to hearing all about it. Blessings David!
posted February 11, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Dave, could you bring me back a crate of mangos? Don’t buy them too soon, otherwise they’ll over-ripen which can get messy in a jumbo-jet’s baggage compartment.
posted February 12, 2008 at 9:33 am
David,
Thinker puts it pretty well, so it’s worth repeating: “Bless you on the journey and in the experience. Such events are too big to be told.”
I learned about Compassion International as a kid. The band Petra used to help promote it.
You’re a light dude.
Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us.
Sincerely,
Brian Horan