Love amidst persecution

Loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us? Was Jesus being serious? Can we really learn to love those that abuse their power and hurt innocents. 

Today I met some people face to face who are seen as many people's enemies in Burma. Although they had a slightly tough exterior from being at war and who knows what kind of experiences, I still saw their humanness underneath. Everyone has justification for what they are doing that makes it okay in their minds. I found myself wondering, how can things go so wrong that you can justify killing people from your own country? I wanted to hate them for what they were doing, but found that I couldn't.

Paul was even someone who killed and persecuted christians. His life was radically transformed and he became someone who changed history, wrote books of the Bible and built up the church. Jesus calls for us to love, but he also calls for justice. For standing up for the rights of widows and orphans and those who are treated unfairly. 

My soul struggles to make sense of what I've seen. I've seen the faces of the victims of war (in the refugee camps) and now I've seen the faces of their oppressors. They were once brothers and sisters, and now they are torn apart and have learned to hate each other. What about all the innocent children that are born into this war torn country? They cannot decide which side of the fighting they are born on. Who will help them? What will become of their lives?

I read this tonight and was challenged by it:

"The Dalai Lama... was driven from his own country and witnessed the systematic killing, torture, oppression, and expulsion of his people." yet... "is free from any hatred or bitterness toward the Chinese who ravaged his land and murdered his people. He says "They too are human beings who struggle to find happiness and deserve our compassion." Jesus took upon himself the suffering of all people and made it into a gift of compassion to his father. That, indeed is the way for us to follow." -Henri Nouwen

As I am surrounded by so much pain and stories of abuse and neglect, and sometimes meet the abusers as well as the victims, I am constantly reminded, that those who hurt other people are deeply hurting and wounded at the core themselves. Something inside has been damaged and the pain causes them to lash out and inflict their inner pain on others. In the case of Burma, it's like the whole country is suffering. I don't have any answers of how to change the huge problem and I know my knowledge of the situation is so small, but my heart cries out for God to healthe deep pain of the nation, and brings justice and mercy and also compasion to the leaders of the country. Would you join me in praying for transformation and healing of this nation...? 

Something beautiful

Last week we discovered a 91 year old grandma living down the street from our safehouse in a little hut by herself. She has no one to look after her, and she has lived in poverty often going out without food, never bathing, and everything she owned was dirty. She has been so neglected. She has open sores on her legs from where she fell down (and no one was there to help her). We were so sad and shocked to see her living all alone in these conditions. The first day, we gave her a bath, wrapping her in a sarong, and sitting out in the sunshine, we poured warm water over her and scrubbed away layers upon layers of built up dirt. Her body is so fragile, my fingers can wrap around her arms and legs, she is literally skin and bones.

Everyday little by little, we've gone over to help her, washing her clothes, cleaning her house, bringing food, and bringing the children to play with her. They both love it, it's so amazing to see these kids, who used to live on the street and live in pathetic conditions but now who live in a place where they receive love and care, come over to her house, feel sorry for her, offer to help sweep her floor and wash her clothes, and sit with her. Her eyes simply light up when they're around.

Today we got to buy some new clothes and shoes for grandma (she only had 2 mismatched worn out flip flops and raggedy stained clothing). After a bath and powdering her face, and combing her hair, she put on her new clothes and we all had tears in our eyes, something beautiful was happening.

We replaced her musty very dirty bedding and ripped up mosquito net and replaced them with a new clean mattress, sheets, pillow, blanket and net. I love being able to help people in this way, it makes all of us smile.

Praise God that we discovered grandma, we've received such a blessing from knowing her, and she has been able to receive so much love and care as well. She is a source of healing for the children, and also receives healing from her loneliness from being with them. It's truly a blessing from God that we met her. It has brought meaning and purpose to all of our lives. Even the community is coming by to visit her now, bringing food, curious about who all these kids are that are visiting her.

Love and blessings to you all! I hope you can share a taste of this beautiful something that is forming here.