Believing is Seeing (Africa Edition)

Seeing is Believing - right?  When I began writing this blog a few years ago, I wanted a name that described the way I was experiencing our adoption journey.  For me, there was so much about adoption that was intangible, yet it was incredibly real to me.  When I would close my eyes tight I could almost see the face of our child-to-be.  But when I opened my eyes to the reality of paperwork and interviews and waiting and waiting and waiting, I was so prone to question and doubt.  I named this blog "Believing is Seeing," because it reminded me that what I could "see" with my eyes shut was actually real.  And, since this is my blog we're going to call that faith instead of delusion, even though those definitions are disturbingly similar.

Then, Evan came home and Faith Became Sight - remember?

The title worked for me.  Then one of my smarty pants friends pointed out that depending on how you emphasize the title it could mean either "BELIEVING is seeing" or "believing is SEEING".  So my blog title is confusing and I'm not as clever as I thought.  That is certainly a thorn in the side of a perfectionist like me.  But, I'm sticking with it because I searched for hours for a more fitting name that isn't taken and came up with nothing it is still meaningful to me.

So, in the interest of being crystal clear I need to explain the title of this post.  I'm switching things up, so pay attention!  What I am writing to you now is "Believing is SEEING."  With the emphasis on SEEING.  You with me?!?

Because I went to Africa.  And I saw what I saw.  (Oooohh - foreshadowing!)

And I had to SEE it to believe it.  And smell it.  And hear it.  And feel it.

I've been home from Africa a week now and I'm stuck.  I have a story to tell of beautiful people and names and lessons I could have learned only in their backyard.  But, I keep holding it close as if it's some treasure of mine that I don't want to share, because it is too precious.  And then I DO want to tell it because it is too precious not to share.  I just cannot find the words.

But, I do have pictures.  A picture is worth a thousand words, right?  And to me each one of these pictures is worth a thousand words.  There is a story in each.  And a name.  Some of you reading (shout out to my TRS peeps!) know the stories and the names, and you agree.  My emotions are stirred as I look into the eyes of these people with whom I spent only one week.  How does that happen?

Soon I will find the words to tell my story of Sierra Leone - my one week there that will resonate in me for the rest of my life.  It will only be my story, though, from my perspective.  My perspective is limited, but I find significance in that.  Sometimes limited is good.  I was looking for beauty and I found it.  If I was looking for devastation, it was certainly there to be found.  But we were told in our orientation to focus on PEOPLE not POVERTY.  We were told to invest in RELATIONSHIPS not PROJECTS.

In telling the story this way, I run the risk of being inaccurate.  I mean, the people of Sierra Leone are in extreme poverty.  They have known the extreme loss of a recent civil war.  Sierra Leone always makes the top ten list of countries with the highest infant mortality rate in the world.  But, what stuck with me was the beauty.  In the most beautiful stories there is loss and pain.  And then hope.  Courage.  Redemption.

It was easy to see this beauty from my vantage point.  I traveled to a children's center (so perfectly) named The Covering that is run by The Raining Season.  Technically, The Covering is an orphanage.  But, as one of the leaders there said, it is so much more than that.  He likes to call it a life development center, and I wholeheartedly agree.  Now that I have seen the ministry there, I believe in this organization deeply and firmly.  There is so much love.  And behind that love there is talent and dedication and accountability and humility and teamwork.  There is a ministry that is more solid and extensive and effective than I could have imagined.  I had no idea, until I saw it with my own "naked eyes," as Pastor Daniel said.

Writing always helps me process, and that is the main reason for this story. But, I also hope that you will see a glimpse with your own eyes, too. And that by SEEING you will believe in TRS's ministry and find a way to support it. They need your support, especially RIGHT NOW!

Beyond that, though, I hope you will SEE the beautiful work of Jesus in Sierra Leone through the lives of these precious people!