While we were in Zambia, the majority of our time was spent with kids. We couldn’t get enough. They seemed to live ok without power,water or food, they were even cool having to go the bathroom in a river. Although half of the population is under the age of 15 and undernourished it would seem that all they truly want is love. They could survive almost any condition because so many of them have lived through the worst. Still, all they were looking for is love.
Hundreds of kids chased us down a dirt road through the middle of a village not because we had food, clothes, or vaccines… but because we had love. It’s that simple. I believe the greatest need in all the world is love and I have the been shown the greatest love in all the world. When I was giving that love away I felt more alive than I’ve ever felt before.
There’s just something about sitting in a circle with 3 others from the team and 20 little African orphans hanging all over you, teaching you their songs, that makes you wonder if life could get any better. And then it hits you that these kids have nothing, including parents most of the time, yet they are so happy because of this love they are experiencing.
Love is the most powerful gift in the world. It’s time to share it, because love’s all that matters.
It’s amazing how one single event, no matter how long or short, can change you forever.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the trip I took to Zambia last year. It’s been almost a year and my world is still upside down. When I think about those kids from the village that I loved on or the ones from the orphanage who became my “entourage” for 9 days my world comes to a screeching halt. Even if I’m in the middle of the most important task and one of those kids crosses my mind I’m done… finished. My heart sinks for them, it breaks when I remember their faces.
I remember walking through this village, it looked like it was right out of a movie. Small huts with bamboo for ceilings and dirt for floors. Most of these make-shift homes were about the size of my bathroom. Hut after hut after hut, seemingly stacked on top of each other for as far as I could see. We just walked. Within minutes dozens of kids were following, soon hundreds. They were all smiles. Full of joy and laughter.
Just before I boarded the plane in Atlanta, I checked my voicemail and I had a message from Shannon. He simply reminded me what Rob Bell says in Velvet Elvis about mission work. He said that the true purpose of going into a part of the world that hasn’t been introduced to a loving God isn’t to take them that God. But rather to reveal to them that God that is already at work right there among them.
Seeing those kids, most of them orphans, running and laughing and playing I realized that our loving God was already there with them.
It blew my mind to see these kids who had nothing, smiling as if they had everything. It’s changed my perspective.
Have you ever had an experience like that? An experience, whether an event or a moment, that changes the way you see the world? If so please share.
I came across this little ditty on Alex McLean’s blog and I thought it would be fun. So here’s a little insight into the mind O’ Trey…
Accent // Slightly southern, I’ve worked hard to make it as slight as possible. I have lived pretty deep in the south all my life.
Book that I like // Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller
Chore I don’t care for // Bathing the dog
Dog or Cat // Dog. We’ve got one, a Springer Lab (he’s a designer breed - yea right) He’s name is Paxton.
Essential Electronics // iPhone, MacBook Pro, TiVO
Favorite Cologne // Very Sexy for HIm by Victoria’s Secret, Armani Acqua Di Gio
Gold or Silver // Silver
Handbag I carry most often // I carry a manbag, or does murse sound better… or you could call it a messenger bag.
Insomnia // I can sleep through anything. But I do hate sleeping on a plane.. I drool. No one likes a drooler.
Job Title // Creative Pastor
Kids // 1. Her name is Bella and she is 19 months old.
Living Arrangements // Own a very cool pink house. I’m not kidding. Which is for sale btw if your interested (shameless)
Most Admirable Trait // How sad is it that I’m having trouble coming up with this. (Beck says I’m a great dad if that counts)
Naughtiest Childhood Behavior // I got really mad at my little brother once and I beat his door down with a baseball bat. yea I got the crap beat out of me for that one but Nic soiled himself (it was totally worth it)
Overnight hospital stays // A couple. For ulcers.
Phobias // Failure.
Quote //Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. -Scott Adams
Religion //No thanks.
Siblings // 2. Younger brother and sister
Time I wake up // 6:00a
Unusual Talent or Skill // I can do a mean toe-touch
Vegetable I Refuse to Eat // Brussel Sprouts
Worst Habit // Biting my nails.
X-rays // Is that a question?
Yummy Stuff // Saucy Q’s ribs, Outback’s steak, Becky’s banana pudding, Olive Garden’s lemon cream cake, Bens Jr. hamburger, Starbucks white mocha, Panera’s cinnamon crunch bagel (I could do this all day)
Zoo Animal I Like Most // Lions >> which reminds me, Prince Caspian comes out this weekend!
It’s not easy being a mother. If it were easy, fathers would do it. -The Golden Girls
I’ve spent quit a few hours lately ‘being mom.’ And I’ve got to say its not easy.
At all.
I love my little girl more than anything in this world. And still it’s not easy.
Because I’m not a mom.
My wife is one of the most amazing people in the entire world. She loves in ways that I’ve never seen love demonstrated. And what’s even more amazing is that it was from day 1. One day she was just a woman, and the next she was an amazing mom. Just like that, overnight. It comes so natural to her, the patience, the gentleness, the wisdom… its like she’s taken a class or something. But she didn’t have to, she’s just a mom, to her core that’s what she is. And she’s great at it. Bella will grow up to be a wonderful woman of God because of her mothers example. It’s a beautiful thing.
I realize this post is way after the fact, but I came across Josh Harris’ blog today and he’s got an extremely interesting series of post about the phenom that was Idol doing Hillsong. It was the closing song of their Idol Gives Back telethon in which they raised over 60 million dollars for kids around the world. Which I think is amazing.
Check out this post to get the inside scoop on Shout to the Lord making onto Idol. Plus there seems to be a bit of drama about it from all angles.
