baptism

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then Jesus came to them and said, "all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything i have commanded you.  and surely i am with you always, to the very end of the age."    -matthew 28: 18-20

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provision

sitting in masi, in a small shack, with two of my friends from zimbabwe... we laughed as we could hear the boy next door entertaining the two younger children in the cresh (daycare).  

he was repeating the same xhosa phrase over and over again - louder and louder, almost signing the words as they left his mouth...

"siyabulela owu nkosi yam"

i asked them to translate and their reply made me smile.  i stopped to remember where i was - a place with so much need... and yet there are reasons to be thankful - there are reasons to have joy.  so i sat there in awe of how God has provided, not only for myself, but for those here in Masi.

and so together with this young boy...

"siyabulela owu nkosi yam"    

---- "we thank our God"----

for friendships formed

for laughter

for consistent faithfulness

for food left on a doorstep

for prayers answered

for a job for the day

for a face from home

for the celebration of baptism

for the encouragement from others

for a loaf of bread and bologna

for miracles of healing

for new opportunities

for hope

may we never cease to say (louder and louder)...

"SIYABULELA OWU NKOSI YAM"