Happy Birthday Jesus

Happy Birthday Jesus

I love Jesus! I love what HE has done for me; us.

Imagine-I am living in Africa! A small town girl from South Georgia is living large as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali, Africa. The love of Jesus Christ has carried me through the years. Now his love gets me through every day in Mali.

“The laughter of children. The smile on the face of Haoua. Mastering French idioms. Making Friends. Staying strong through moments of doubt. When mustering the strength to go to the market to bargain for tomatoes. Walking the streets of Bamako. Watching the sunrise over the beautiful landscape as I ride Gana Transport into Bamako.”

I am so thankful that I know HIM. He is transforming not conforming.

Dear Family and Friends… Christmas is day to celebrate HIS birthday. His existence makes our existence bearable. We are capable of such horrible things-dishonesty, betrayal, murder, war. Africa is a prime example, where sin runs rampant and nobody seems to care until it affects them personally.

I have a story that illustrates that one must take action. Also whether that action is ever worthwhile?

The last time I was on Gana Transport, the bus that leaves at 6:30am in the morning for Bamako, a window was open. One must take into account that it is currently cold season. I was overjoyed because it is normally stuffy and makes one feel bit nauseas. The combination of body odor, hot breath, and other unknown scents makes me want to barf. Yet, as soon as the bus embarked on the 3 hour voyage, another passenger quickly closed the window. I was saddened but understood I was THE minority.

We started to gather speed. WHOOSH! My curtain starts flying in the wind; hitting the passenger behind myself in the face. The window has fallen open. The man in front of me closes it. POP! It falls open again! The latch is broken. The young man behind me tries to stuff the curtain into the corner of the latch to rig it shut. It falls open again! The Gana Transport staff comes by, he pushes it shut again. POP! It falls open again!

Geez, you'd think they get the point. I try to help the young man behind me. He says it is no use. We sit in agony of cold wind for another 20 minutes. The passenger on the other side of me starts to rub his arms and ties a handkerchief around his noggin. He is deliberately trying to hint to me that it is cold. Other passengers are complaining. A few other passengers start complaining. Yet nobody tries to close it again. Nor do they even try to rig it close. I attempt three different solutions; all fail. The young man behind me says it is no use. I try holding it shut because it starting to make me cold!

Finally I somehow rig it close with my D-ring (the hook that rock-climbers use with their harness, I always forget the real name). People are thankful. The man stops rubbing his arms and slightly sleeps for a moment.

The thing that stumps me is that it is still cold! There is yet another window that is also broken and blowing cold air. However nobody even tries to fix it. They close it; it falls open. Over and over and over. Did they not learn anything?

It obviously takes more than just closing it. It is broken. Don't they see that their solution to the problem isn't working? I have given them an example but they don't seem to care nor are they appreciative. They continue to complain about how cold it is but do not want to take the extra step to change… What is the point of this story?

The point is that Jesus came down to Earth for us. He showed us the way. He gave us the ultimate example. We are to follow in his ways. Yet many us chose to follow him when all else fails. When we are so bothered by our dire situation that now it seems appropriate to follow Him. Whatever it is that leads us to Him. I am grateful because HE did come and die for me, you, US.

His love for me helps me understand and love those that surround me. I have patience and understanding. There is a time and place for everything. Africa is still discovering that the world can and will change. It is up to them to realize and chose when or if to follow the example.