East Africa
This month’s Update is a brief snapshot into one of the young leaders we are investing in. For me, hearing people’s stories can be powerful. I hope you will feel as inspired as I did.
Scotty is 24 years old. He is currently in Africa on a two-month mission trip, helping develop a school and humanitarian efforts in that country. Here are a couple of updates from Scotty:
“Around 5pm every day after work we meet up with all of the neighbor kids. They have developed the habit of waiting outside of our gates around this time. There are usually between 30 and 50 kids that come to hang out. Of all the things we are involved in, this is my favorite ministry.
“These kids are extremely prone to violence. Almost all of the violence includes rocks. Each time a child gets angry with another, they’ll immediately pick up a stone larger than their hand and try to hit the other in the face with it. This happens probably 15 to 20 times every time we play a sport. Some of the kids have fresh wounds on their foreheads from getting hit with rocks. Others have bad scars.
“One of the women that works for us came in late yesterday because her son had to be rushed to the hospital due to head trauma from a rock being thrown at him. This probably seems nuts to you, but it’s actually really normal in this culture.
“I have already seen three fights between men in the marketplace in the last couple weeks. A crowd gathers around them as they start arguing. Each man immediately picks up a rock slightly larger than his hand and tries to smash the other’s head with it. Some people laugh. Others just ignore it, because it’s so common. The children just stare. The kids learn everything from them.
“A friend gave me the book ‘Just Courage’ by Gary Haugen to read while I’m on this trip. Gary devoted a whole chapter of his book to the problem of violence in 3rd world countries. He says, ‘Rather than looking away from such ugliness, Christians actually have to go looking for it.’
“My teammate and I stayed out of a lot of the fights in the beginning because we weren’t sure how to handle it. Now we have taken a different approach. Our main ministry has become teaching the kids how to love each other.
“When tempers flare, we jump into the fight immediately even if that means getting hit with stones. If they don’t stop right away, we are done playing sports for the day.
“We have learned certain phrases that let them know that any form of violence is unacceptable. Boundaries have been set and the fights have decreased substantially in the last week.
“I think they are starting to see how much more fun things are when they don’t try to kill each other. This is only a drop in the bucket, but it’s a start.
“I thought I heard gunshots in the distance while sitting in my living room late last night. I did what any sensible foreigner would do in that situation. I put on my shoes and went out for a stroll under the stars!
I opened the gates to our compound as my guards hurried to get their guns, slipped on their shoes and put away their Khat. (Khat is a drug that has similar effects to Cocaine without the addictive side effects. Most men use it. It isn’t illegal because it keeps their economy afloat).
“The air was chilly and the moon was so bright I could see my shadow. I began praying and processing through all that had happened during the day. I noticed my guards just staring at me from a distance as I prayed. I felt an urge to share Jesus with them, but I had no idea how.
“I went back inside wondering how Jesus was able to make it look so easy. He connected with people in the simplest ways and the effects were profound. How come I can’t do that?
“I got on my computer and saw that I had left some pictures open from the last time I had used my laptop. The light bulb in my head went on.
“I brought my computer outside and found the guards in their shack hurriedly putting their shoes on, fetching their guns and stowing away their Khat. This time I told them to relax and stay seated. I crawled into their shack, got in-between the three of them and sat down on the dirt floor. I set the laptop in front of us and turned on a slide show.
“They watched in awe as tons of pictures appeared on the screen of Germany, Florida, Chicago, Colorado, college friends, Arlington Heights friends, family, Ethiopia, and much more. Their eyes were wide and their mouths hung open. Occasional ooohs and aaahs could be heard.
“Their expressions changed immediately when we started looking at the pictures I took in Africa. It was like they were looking at their people and seeing their beauty for the first time. It’s easy to miss it when all you see is poverty, suffering, and fighting.
“Their eyes were proud and grateful as they looked at photos of people they knew, children they see on the streets and landmarks that look like rubble to the naked eye. They thanked me numerous times as I got up to leave and asked me to come back sometime soon and show them more.
“They no longer looked at me like I was an ignorant nuisance. They looked at me like I was their friend, their friend that didn’t judge them for chewing Khat and didn’t think twice about conversing with the lower class in their society.”
I love that Scotty and the other young leaders being impacted through Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc. are actively getting their hands and feet dirty, and bringing Jesus’ love to the poor, to the violent, to the oppressed, to the addicted, and to the next-generation. I think you’d be really proud of them. I know I am.
An investment in Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc. is an investment in these young leaders, like Scotty, who I believe are going to make a loving difference in this world.
Would you consider partnering with me by providing financial support?
I’m currently at about 84% of my goal for the year. I’d love to have you join my team. We can make an impact together.
In His Love,
Randy
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