And Sunday was great too ...

This is a continuation of my most recent blog (if you haven't read it, I'll summarise it here--Saturday was awesome. Period.) Saturday ended, my heart was full ... and it turned into an equally good Sunday. A double header weekend!

Besides it being Father's day, and enjoying a few precious moments play-wrestling with Ethan and Marcel in a warm, cozy bed, it was a great day because we went this morning to worship with our Brasilian missionary friends Flavia and Anderson.

Flavia and Anderson started, and continue to run, Criança Feliz Angola (Happy Child Angola), a program to help some of the most vulnerable children and families in Lubango. Primarily, this is through a preschool program at two different homes, but as we saw today, it reaches much further--I mean, I'm actually blown away by what they are doing and continue to do! Not only are they working super hard to help kids and families meet their physical needs (through the preschool program, but also through a "cesta basica"--aka. food hamper--program/"adopt a family" program they have started), they are also seeing incredible spiritual fruit through retreats, cell groups, bible studies, and Sunday morning services that they have started.

Today, we went to the Sunday morning service they hold at one of the Criança Feliz homes. It was super cool! First of all, there was somewhere between 100-150 kids ... they flooded in the doors! There were also many women, and a few men. These families are amongst the poorest of the poor, and most have an extremely limited education. Nonetheless, there we were worshipping together! We sang and we prayed, and then Flavia delivered a simple but effective message (with visuals) about building your house on the rock vs. the sand. She emphasised obeying Jesus and trusting Jesus even during hard times. The message was simple because just like us, the majority of the people present have difficulty understanding a lot of Portuguese. Not only because they lack a sufficient education, but also because many of them speak tribal languages as their mother tongue.

The message was simple--but one thing was clear. Despite their abject poverty, these people wanted, needed, and TRUSTED Jesus. Their prayers were heartfelt.

Afterward, we had the honour of visiting three homes to pray for different families. This was EYE-OPENING. I'm talking adobe homes with no windows, no electricity, no running water, no bathrooms, maybe two to three rooms at most. None of the three homes we visited had a father present. Just a mother and children. The POOREST of the POOR. Yet we were welcomed inside. No one seemed ashamed of their homes, just thankful for prayer.

How does one process this? How does one see these homes, and then continue on, living in the same city, in a home so vastly different that it's almost funny?

I don't know the answer completely. One thing is clear--the work that Anderson and Flavia do, that Criança Feliz does, is necessary. It was clear today that their work is a bright light in these communities. These families, in the midst of their poverty, can see their children get food, an education, a good start. They can feel part of a community. They can know Jesus because His followers have reached out and loved them and shared hope with them.

I, too, am comforted by something one of our friends reminded us to keep in mind when facing such blatant poverty--that Jesus' words were spoken to the poor. His blessings, his encouragements--they were directed to the poor. The Bible is full of hope for the poor. See for example, Matthew 19:23-30:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is richto enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[e] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

I want to end by shamelessly making a plug for Criança Feliz Angola. I was moved today. Hopeful, happy, joyful because of what I saw. Challenged because the need is great, and Flavia was not afraid to say it--Criança Feliz would love to see more people from around the world become part of their community. They have some really cool opportunities available! Come and see. Of course, we would love to have you visit Angola ... can't you all just move here with us?

In the meantime ... check out our pics below, check out their Facebook page, or watch their video (although it's in Portuguese ... but hey, you can still watch it). I think you will be amazed and moved by what you see. Thanks Flavia, Anderson, and your team for your hard work!

Meeting some of the kids after the service. Immediately prior to, and following
this pic, they proceeded to chase a more than willing Ethan around the yard,
trying to pet his hair. How did we miss getting a picture of that?

Flavia demonstrating that those who hear but don't obey the words of Jesus
are like the foolish man building his house on the sand--when the rains come,
the house collapses.

This ... this. This was crazy. An adobe home with no windows. One room.
These women wanting and needing prayer for food, for work, for family difficulties.
The woman on the far right prayed for them in Umbundu, their heart language.
Thankful that Criança Feliz is there as a source of hope, in the name of Jesus.