Heart of Compassion in Dodoma

Children from Moyo Huruma, Dodoma.

Ester Godfrey - Std7 .......... Roda Staniel - Std1
Erasto Jonas - Std1 ............ Catherine Joseph - Std1
Vumilia Moris - Std1 .......... Nusura Mohamed - Std5
Juliana Chilongola - Std4 ... Hawa Mustapha - Std4
Sada Mustapha - Std5 ....... Fatuma Issa - Std3
Elizabeth Francis - Std5 .... Grace Mwacha - Std7

I was approached by the couple (Jackson & Esther Leguna) who lead the church in Dodoma that I visited last year, who care-assist 50 orphans in their community. They go under the name Moyo Huruma (Heart of Compassion), this couple really do express that heart of compassion - with so little, giving everything that they have to whosoever comes. As yet they have not managed to negotiate their way through the red-tape to register as a community based organisation and thus be in line for assistance, but that is their intention. They requested financial assistance for 12 of the children going to school, as they cannot attend unless they have school uniform, books and shoes. I immediately put the request to the church, with the challenge to give up food for the day and give that money for the orphans. In that way, people can give according to their means, as well as fulfil the call of Isaiah 58 to share your food with the hungry. The response was wonderful and heartfelt, and without wanting to start a meaningless tradition, I believe it is something that we will repeat!

What do you think? How did this experience impact you?

FATHER'S BLESSING
This past week as we took time to fast and pray for the orphans at Moyo Huruma in Dodoma (thank you for your contributions!), I was reminded of this amazing text in Ephesians, revealing our Father's heart of compassion on us:

Eph 1:3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

What a gracious and amazing Father! He has placed upon us His love, identity and acceptance - not because of what we did (or can do!) but because of what Jesus did. That's why it's freely given - not grudgingly or obligingly or dutifully, but it pleased God to extend His grace to us.

How can we not respond in praise and awesome wonder?!

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"

(1 John 3:1)

The Love Of Jesus

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:1-8)

So often we say that love is an action, it is doing things - especially for God and for the poor. While it is true that love acts, not all action is a result of love. How easily deceived we can be! Our most magnificent acheivements count for nothing if not done in love! So often when we evaluate ourselves, we do it on the basis of the first paragraph:

I pray every day, read my bible and go to church. I can recite verses from the bible and can explain the doctrines of the Christian faith . I give money to the poor through my church and my family thinks I'm an idiot for being a Christian.

Want a reality check? Substitute your name in the place of love in the second paragraph and read it aloud... Shocking isn't it? As I read the passage and applied it to myself, I wondered... Would my wife say amen to that? What about my children, my neigbours, the guy in the traffic, my employees or colleagues? In Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12 we read:

What God has said isn't only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts.

God is not looking for an outward conformity to His word, a religious obedience to rules and regulations but He wants to change our hearts which will result in changed behaviour and actions. Read that passage again, this time substituting the name Jesus for the word love. How incredibly comforting is that? That is the way of Jesus with you and I, and as God's word says, He is transforming us into Jesus' image as we commune with Him in His Presence. It's His work to transform us, it's ours to come into His presence and submit to His dealings of our hearts. The result is that we can go out into the world with the love of Jesus which will bring praise and glory to God!

Love

Andrew