Sonora in Boomtown

The kids, Sonora, agent B and I visited a museum of my hometown through it's history. It goes back to the days of the aboriginal people on the plains, through the early 1900s and a few exhibits of more modern times. Most of it is in the early 1900s and is of the main buildings at that time: a typical home, church, school, store, train station, newspaper office, stable, blacksmith, RCMP barracks, farm machinery...

I was going around explaining to the kids the different tools and implements (that I know of) and was humbled by the fact that in many instances, Sonora knew of the old techniques and tools better than I. She didn't have to visit the museum to know how they dried fish, what it was like to live in a mud house, use an outhouse or sharpen knives on a stone- this was her life in the refugee camp of Ghana.

I feel for her and so many others who experience this season of togetherness and family separated- whether it be due to war, finances, politics or social reasons. We are meant to live in community and one of the most heart wrenching realities is that so many of us are separated from loved ones or are alone at some level.

Sonora's mom is in the US, her only sister is in Africa, her father and older brothers live here in the city, but due to the rules of CPS, she can't spend this special day with them. Her father came to give her a gift and spend some time with her, but they were not allowed to really be together. They are in a foreign country and home, each with so many levels of pain- painting on a smile today to make it through. There is some delight and joy today for them, but not far under that is very real heartache.

Lover- you came from perfection: perfect love, perfect home, perfect community into a world of chaos, pain and strife. You came offering your perfection, love, a home with you and perfect community. Come again. Go to those who are hurting and in pain that they may know You and the joy, love and peace that transcends this world and comes from you. May Sonora, her family and so many others be comforted in their losses and know that there really is reason to be merry today. You make all the difference. Bring your gifts of love and life once again.

a home for misfits

This trip has been a real blessing so far. I didn't have any of my regular going home frustration dreams. In them, I am defending/arguing about church issues with one of my parents. I had none of those feelings of inadequacy or of religious judgement this time. I've also been seeing how my desires to help those in need and reach out to misfits has been birthed by my family.

The day of our arrival, my mom discovered that she would be a foster mom of sorts. Their church has also been reaching out to African refugees and one family has gotten into a situation with CPS. Sonora was taken from her dad and put in a foster home that was not taking care of her well. The mother in the States, whose sister my mom had helped, asked my parents to intervene. So, they are currently the caregivers of a pre-teen. As I reflected on this, I remember how my parents were always asking people to come to diner after church- not the regulars or close friends, but every visitor, any foreigners and otherwise unfamilied travellers were welcomed in. This is a normal part of their lives and has a added a lot of flavor and appreciation to our lives and home.

not a baby

Mbamie, Pieter, their kids and sister stopped by last night to say goodbye and wish me a good trip. It was an exciting time since they had good news and I had good news. Pieter's face was filled with delight and he told me to guess what good news they had. My first thought was that they were pregnant. I mean he was wearing the same big smile people have when they are expecting. But if they weren't I would totally embarrass him by suggesting it and they wouldn't likely announce it like that. So I thought- what other news would give them smiles that big? Then it came to me...

"Did your suitcases come in?"
"Yes!" He shouted, all smiles and bubbling with excitement.

They arrived at his door last Friday and he thought of calling to tell me, but wanted to tell me in person, since they had already planned to stop by. Then Mbamie hands me a plastic bag with two dresses from Africa in them for me! I was stunned. This man was told to condense anything he wants to take for him and his family in two suitcases- all his possessions. And he still found room for gifts for others. I was very honored, not that I have a clue where I would wear these dresses- I can't stand dresses and one of them is very African and the other very flamboyant- both reminders of their great love.

My good news was that Jessie gave me her computer for them. I went next door asking if they have a computer to sell, since Frieda is always picking them up at garage sales for $5. Then Jessie says Pieter could have hers, that she never uses it.

Pieter was so excited! I hope it works well for him.

I'm at the feet of good teachers

A conversation between me and my son (age 3).

Son- "We need lots of money"
"We do?"
Son- "Yeah, Jesus needs money. He fell off his donkey. We have to go to the paper store (the bank) and make money to give for Jesus".

One of my son's favorite stories is that of the good samaritan. In a children's version of it that we have, the man beaten had been on a donkey. If you tell the story like my son did, by morphing it with Matt. 25, it makes a powerful message. To love our neighbor is to take care of the one who is beaten down, robbed, left desperate and alone. To love God is also to love this same neighbor- what we have done for the least of these, we have done for him. Mamma T tried to have this same perspective as she ministered to the poor, to see herself as touching, feeding, comforting, loving Jesus- the lover being loved.

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Jenny was over the other day. I was trying to make a collage/picture for Mbamie commemorating the arrival of her husband, so I just let Jenny in, threw some paper, glue, markers and stuff at her and let her get creative too. She came to look at what I was making and I gave her a synopsis of the reunion. I told her how Pieter arrived here and that his luggage is lost and he barely has clothes. She then exclaimed:

"I wish I still had my $5. I spent it yesterday on rings for my brother and I, but I could have given it to him. I'll get another $5 someday though and then I can give it to him."

She went home and had to come back since no one was there. We told her she could eat supper with us. She then told me how she missed her friends Jason and Sally, that they used to cook ramen noodles for her. This was the kids who often went without food, water, electricity- and yet they shared what they had with others in need.