the Jesus film

On Friday we were supposed to be "painting a church" as they had told us on Thursday, so we got all ready in our painting clothes and met the group down at the seminary. The youth we were going with were all in nice dress clothes and we knew there must have bit of a misunderstanding. They told us, "Oh, we're showing the Jesus film instead." (We are still adapting to this laid back lifestyle and tried to remind ourselves that "this is different, but it's okay") So we walked back up to our guesthouse, changed, and met back at the van to leave. We traveled about 25 minutes to a little village area in Maputo. Once we arrived we walked from "house" to "house" with the Youth to invite the residents to view the film with us later on that night.

(side story: When we walked around the area inviting people to the film, there was a little girl with a severe mental disability sitting the the dirt. As we walked towards her (she was in the pathway) she was making very loud noises, yelling and as if she was trying to talk. She couldn't say any words and her legs didn't work. She started crawling towards us with her arms and was so dirty. Drool was pouring from her mouth and her sisters were playing on a tree behind her as nothing unordinary was happening. I immediately got nervous because she sounded in pain and I didn't know how to react. Kristin was the first one to kneel down to her. The first thing the girl wanted to do was touch her hands. We all knelt down to her and her noises immediately turned into some kind of happy hysteria. She was laughing and seemed in pure amazement as we touched her dirty hands. She dragged an old magazine with her and we showed great interest in it. Sometimes it's crazy what the little things can do. She was so sweet. It was challenging for me to begin with, but I am so glad we didn't just pass her. Sometimes the biggest blessings are in disguise. I heard the phrase 'the least of these' play over and over in my head as we touched her hands and her sweet face. Before we left Kaylee gave her a dum dum sucker that was in her purse. I cannot explain to you the laughing/screaming/happiness that came out of her in that moment. It's amazing what a simple touch can sometimes do. I feel like she was such a blessing to us, much more than we could have ever been to her. I won't ever forget that moment. She was beautiful.)

When we returned back to the film location we helped set up the projector system and all the equipment.. and then the guests started to arrive. Around 20 people showed up, including many little kids! It was a larger group than I would have expected because the area didn't seem very populated to begin with. The Youth in charge put on this upbeat Portuguese Christian music and began dancing with the guests! We had all of the little kids dancing with us, and we had such a good time. They are so funny and dancing is much different here than in the states! They would do these ridiculous motions, and it's all about mimicking... so they would do motions to something that looked like "head, shoulders, knees, and toes" and then point to us and expect us to mimic them. They found this hilarious, so we all had a great time.

We finally started the Jesus film after we all ate (of course) around 7:30. I had the privilege of holding this sweet little boy in my lap during the film who just could not seem to keep his eyes open. He was out shortly after it started. It really makes me wonder how often these children get to be held and loved on. The three of us all had a little one in our arms, but at first they seemed so awkward. They didn't know how to be comfortable and sat straight up on our laps, stiff and very shy. I pulled the little boy back so he could lean on me. It was pretty cold so I laid a jacket on top of him and let his head rest against my shoulder. After a few minutes his body relaxed and he seemed so peaceful, in what seemed the first time in quite a while. I wonder what his "bed" at home is like. If it was anywhere near the area that we showed the Jesus film, it was probably a cold cement floor. But what about his mom and dad? Did they have the time to ever hold him this way, to cuddle up with him and tell him that they love him? I don't understand how so many beautiful, innocent children can be expected to live so independently. I don't think I ever will understand. We can only love them as much as possible while we have the chance to. I never even caught the little boy's name last night. He spoke Shangaan, and once the film started I don't think he would have been able to hear me ask. It wasn't long before his little eyes were shut and he was off to sleep, but that was enough.. I didn't need to know.

At the end of the film there were about 4 or 5 individuals that came to the front to give their lives to Christ. It was a blessing to see and to hear all of their prayers, even though we weren't able to understand them. When the film was over, we said bye to all our little 'dance partners' and loaded back into the van to return back to seminary. It was a day that began much differently than we had anticipated, but it was very evident that God had a designated plan for our day. I'm learning that this is life.. often much different than we are able to imagine. But God is so good and he has plans that are so much greater and amazing than our own.

Love Always, Allyson