"Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." Isaiah 58: 12
Have you ever experienced blessings so rich, so extravagant, so overwhelming, so breathtaking that they left you speechless? Well this week I experienced just that. I know some of you are struggling to imagine what exactly me "speechless" would sound like (apart from quiet) and others, who know me a little better, are already covering your ears in fearful anticipation that such excitement may result in the only outburst of noise I am capable of making at such a time: an excruciatingly painful high pitched squeal! First let me try to explain why all the excitement.
I was in Uganda! You may remember Miss Main and I were there in August of 2007. At the time we wrote (and wrote and wrote) about how are lives were enriched by the infectious joy and faith of the children in Dwelling Places; how our understanding of compassion was increased by the demonstration of gentleness and extravagant love poured out by "Mama" Rita Nkemba and all of her staff and how our cheeks were made sore from the laughter we shared with the Weegies (Glaswegians) we met up with.
Officially Dwelling Places is an organisation dedicated to removing children from the streets, rebuilding broken families and restoring broken individuals with the love of Jesus Christ. They do so by "rehabilitating and reconciling street children with their families." Unofficially it is church! Dwelling places is Isaiah 58 personified and witnessing the exuberance and commitment with which they are "rebuilding the walls" was catalyst for my screams and the reason for the overflow of thankfulness spilling, in painfully high pitched tones, from my heart.
During the summer of '07 we and the Weegies were part of a team training some of the children to perform a musical called Peace Child. Although the show was a huge success and the children performed so professionally the rehearsals, I have to admit, were anything but peaceful: choruses were sung over and over (and over and over again); drama workshops were conducted, dance moves were perfected and costumes were fitted. Amidst the beautiful chaos that was Peace Child we got to know the children and staff there in Uganda. Everyday was an opportunity to catch a glimpse of what God was doing in their young lives; children who were orphaned, abandoned and/or vulnerable were being restored: given food, a place to sleep and education. So I assumed that the scripture from Isaiah, the foundation upon which DP was built, was being made flesh. We were witnessing it in action everyday. However that was only the beginning of my journey to understand rebuilding.
Although I myself know very little about architecture -other than that I occasionally admire the intricacy of ornate decoration sculpted on a the high ceiling of an age old building or comment on the practicality and cleanliness of a innovative, fresh design of a new one- I happen to have friends a lot more creative than I and so understand something of the care and professionalism that is practised when designing or constructing a building. Recently, through conversations with my amazing friend, Sajey B (Sarah Jane), I'm beginning to understand a little more about the differences between the old and new. It appears that the restoration of an old building is so much more time consuming and demands much more intimate involvement than simply constructing something completely new. Time is taken to consider and research the original architects intentions and their imaginings for the character of that building. Thought is given to recognising and preserving what is good and the best, most professional methods are used to repair damage and deterioration caused by the passage of time, wear and neglect. Time is taken to source materials that replicate original ones used so as not to detract or devalue its form. Sarah Jane explains that often more costs are incurred because materials are so unique and precious that they become more expensive and she explains that time taken to restore something so old within new guidelines and conditions...and without the original architect is often much longer.
And so back to my screams: caused by a new appreciation of the restoration that is taking place. Unlike last time I wasn't part of a team teaching music, although I did have the joy of being accompanied by Weegies (and John). I mentioned that DP is a place of rehabilitation. This means that although it is an orphanage and will be home to some orphaned children until they become adults and can live independently, for many DP is a resting place. A place where the children can dwell with their parents are supported (by DP) to manage to look after them. The level of support given differs with every child and individual family. Some stay only months in the safety and care of DP while their parents attend adult literacy classes or vocational training, enabling them to find employment in order to be reconciled with their children. Others live for years while support is given to parents to prepare to be reconciled with their child or children living in the DP home. This Easter I had the joy to be able to visit some of the children, whom I had previously taught in Peace Child, in their homes. Most of the homes were in the slums which cradle the busy city of Kampala. Others took hours (on the back of a boda- motorbike) to locate, situated in small villages amongst the peacefulness of matoke plantations and Jack fruit holdings I was reunited with the children.
What a gift from God to see these children so happy back in the heartbeat of their families! However, amidst tears of thankfulness, screams of "Auntie, Auntie you came back! Auntie meet my brother...and sister...and brother...and sister...and cousin...and cousin (all, more often than not, living in the same one bed-roomed aluminium construction) was my appreciation of the rebuild taking place. In witnessing the staff of DP encouraging parents: delivering support, school fees, Easter eggs, a hug and appreciated words of advice I witnessed real restoration.
With the care and compassion of skilled craftsmen the staff and volunteers set about restoring. Taking time to listen: the initial step is to understand in order to initiate intimacy; carefully considering feelings and preserving beauty in order to repair and build up. Taking time to draw alongside (or huddle with a parent on the dusty floor of a mud hut); no one rushed the process (admittedly not rushing is part of Ugandan culture) but more than that time was taken so as not to cause more damage, laying foundations that will last and can be built upon. I watched, and followed, as Rhona (a radiant member of DP staff) lead us "Muzungos" through Catwe (a slum), greeting family members, extended family members and even passers by in a community she's become involved in through her relationship and commitment to serving the street children. I realised that as she practised true fasting (Is 58: 6-11), as she reached out to serve the least of these (Math 25) and as I joined her, we were the ones being restored. Yes the process is so much more time consuming but like Sarah Jane's, Rhona's elation was so much more than that of someone who had thrown up something as a quick fix solution or new design. Seeing someone restored and reaching the potential they were designed with is something worth screaming about! Their architect is God and the intimacy and intricacy he designed each child with, you with, is one full of character and beauty (Ps 139), never to be destroyed but to be repaired and made more radiant by the support and help of others.
What Lorna and I have witnessed since returning home is that as we share the testimonies of the children at Dwelling Places and the hundreds of others we had the privilege of meeting, we are restored. When we reach out it is then that we find our joy...in the Lord!
And so I am thankful. Thankful for what I witnessed in Uganda. I'm blessed by what I experienced today and I'm excited about what God will do with tomorrow. I'm going to St Andrew's Church, Bo'ness. A congregation whose architect is God! A congregation who are reaching out and as we do we are being restored. It takes time, intimacy, care, relationship, compassion to serve and a humility to accept the help of others. The help of people close by and the love of those far away.
And so you'll be pleased to know I'm finally speechless. Lost in wonder and excited anticipation of what the building will look like when it is fully restored. By building I mean the church Christ calls us to be. A church that recognises that where there is brokenness God intends there to be healing. Where there is damage God calls us to carefully, gently start to repair. Not in a slap dash, anything will do fashion, but with skill and attention to detail. I believe we have been through the season of preparation. The season where on a building the scaffolding is put up and the materials are stripped clean in order to start a new thing. Behind that scaffolding cracks in the walls are sealed and the building is made new. When it is finally revealed it is always magnificent. Passers by comment on the newness, the beauty and what a good job has been done putting it all back together; to it's original state. When we are made new, all put back together; when the church of Jesus Christ is revealed (even parts of it at a time) it is so radiant the passers by stop and stare; they are drawn to it. It is in that magnificent place the the real Dwelling Place of Christ will be...
SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEM!
