Back from Mali and my first short-term mission trip

I got back from Mali late Thursday afternoon and my wife, Gladys, was at Capital City Airport in Lansing to greet me.  She was a vision.  Wow.  It felt great to be home.  But . . .

I've had a few days to digest what I saw and what I experienced.  There are certain things I don't want to forget.  I thought of one this morning at 4 a.m. or thereabouts as I was wide-awake on our couch with the i-Book in my lap.

My thoughts went to the Evangelical Christian Church that was meeting at that time in a classroom of Hope School in Bamako.  I was at their service exactly a week ago.  This very, very basic classroom was packed with believers and seekers in a Muslim neighborhood where there were mosques on both side of us.  The service was in French and Bambara. 

But, what really struck me is that I recognized the music from "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow."  The words took on a whole new explosive meaning for me. 

To understand, you need to look at the context of where the service was taking place.  It all centers around how you define blessing.  For me, it's having the right kind of cereal for breakfast in the morning.  And, then getting in one of our two cars to drive a mile down the road to church. 

I know that if I'm ill I can easily go to the doctor and get competent health care.  My blessing list would also include two great kids who have gotten great educations and face a future where they can support themselves. 

Then, I think of my friends at the church in Hope School.  Healthcare is way less than basic.  Your kid gets malaria, the odds are good that they will get really sick and might die.  Getting an education where you learn to read and write and get a better job is reserved for the few.  Eating decent is something thats's a daily struggle.

Neighbors over there are probably Muslim or animist and there are many who still practice blood sacrifice of humans.  The list goes on.  Go to the john and it goes into an open sewer.  Then there's the traffic in young children and the slavery that goes with it.

Okay, so how can they sing, "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow?"

It's got to be the faith thing.  They know that Jesus will not leave them.  They know where they will spend eternity.  Their lives are defined by what Jesus did on the cross and by the hope of heaven.

I see things a little differently, maybe even a lot.

I hope I don't forget my friends there.  I know that I will see them in heaven.

Comments

[Lauren and Carol]

Wes,
Sure do appreciate your comments. I sure can identify with them. Thanks for the reminder to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in Mali. Let's be accountable to each other to pray for them long-term, not just while the memories are fresh in our minds. OK? Lauren

[Paul]

Experiencing the life and heart of the African people sure helps one to see with a better perspective what is important and what is not. The American culture, technology, blessings sure muddy the waters concerning eternal value. It's only when we have experiences like visiting a third world country and seeing people live daily in a life or death level, or when we personaly face death eyeball to eyeball that we realize the stuff we usually occupy ourselves in the US with is usually just fluff. When we see the world through Jesus' eyes, things take on a whole different perspective. We often see life in the US as a game. It's no game in a third world country.

[Dave Bartlett]

Wes,
I was with the medical team in Mali just before you got there. I have been following your dispatches. It seems obvious that you have a heart for Mali. I fully understand and agree with all you've said. It was a time we'll never forget. I, for one, can't wait to get back. Thank you for what you've done and the way you've shared it all.
Blessings,
Dave