We rise early before the sun. The journey stretches long before us dropping off over a predawn horizon. We bounce and jostle straddling 2 huge grain sacks filled with fresh warm bread from a local bakery.
100,000 people. Their world’s burned to ash, their homes bombed, their families separated running for their lives. My mind cannot wrap itself around the enormity of it all. And here we come, 4 of us with 600 pieces of bread praying God still uses little lunches wholly offered to Him to bring His Kingdom.
It is five and half hours one way over nonexistent roads. The area is too dangerous to spend the night. So we will stay only a few hours and return well before dark. Militias have attacked the last two nights in a row.
Nearing the tumultuous border with the north, we approach this small village of Turalei. It is a speck on the map. Temporary shelters line the road and fill the open spaces. We pull into the dusty market center to find thousands have already fled deeper into the bush from the attacks that followed them here. Tens of thousands have run again for their lives. A few thousand remain behind.
We wind our way through grass mat huts in a field until we happen on a family under a mango tree. Mama Lina (in the green with her arm around me) runs up and envelops me in her embrace. Her eyes glisten. Her children laugh and giggle. Sitting on a woven grass mat, the only thing left from their former home, this family opens their hearts and stories to us. You would think they were having a summer picnic.
They narrate the last weeks. I stand in awe at the loss, the pain. And their joy in the middle of it all.
This mama gazes deep into my heart, moist eyes shining and she who ran from bombs living with her children under a mango tree with seemingly no protection from marauding militias, SHE grabs me close me and holds on to me for long. THIS is love.
She leans low and whispers about His faithfulness.
He will care for you. Don’t worry about having only one leg. He will never leave you. He will always be there. We are never alone.
I choke back tears. I seriously want to pull up a grass mat under the next mango tree and become their neighbor. I am stunned again at the generosity, the compassion and the riches of those we call poor. I leave a bit of my heart under their tree. I long for the day I can go back to find it. And I wonder which one of is truly poor.
She shows me this: Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God in an upside down Kingdom where the last are first, the least are great and we find our lives by giving them away.
So what about you dear friends? Where have your journeys on mission or outreach taken you this summer? Across the world or around the corner, what have you learned on the way? Do you have a story from your times of service or mission over this summer season? Do you have a post – old or new – that you want to link up with us here?
After all shared journeys are such gifts in an often solitary world. We would be honored to celebrate and learn from all that you have seen God do as you have stepped out to follow Him!
By Michele Perry from An Unpaved Road
Leave a Comment
Amy Hunt says
I shared linked up with a post I wrote this morning and I could have said so much more…my road less traveled this summer has been at home, in my marriage. It’s been hard. But I’ve *seen* that being faithful has its rewards–and there is purpose in it all.
Sometimes I don’t think I’m doing *enough* and I feel as though my relatively simple-ish life is weak compared with others–missionaries such as yourself really out on the battlefield. But even here, even at home it’s a battle and *this is my worship*.
Rich blessings as you continue to serve Him where ever you are, sweet Michele…
Michele@From the Unpaved Road says
Amy- loving the one is what it is all about. Whether the one is across the dinner table or across the world. Papa is cheering you on and SO am I! Love from Wales…
Paola Pacheco Rarick says
Wow! I haven’t been a Christian for a very long time and have never been on a missions trip but I was physically and emotionally moved by your story! I almost don’t know how you can do it with the emotions that must have come along with that, but then again God equipts us with what we need to get through. Thanks for sharing! Truly touching.
Michele@From the Unpaved Road says
You are so welcome…
Donna Weaver says
Michelle, I haven’t personally been on a mission trip this summer but during the time you were traveling and speaking, I linked up with the unpaved road and became a prayer warrior. Since that time, I have followed your adventure, cried with you as you struggled, experienced your joy in the small things, and celebrated all of the the work God is doing in the Sudan. You have truly impacted my life through the blessings of your beautiful words and touching photos,
Thank you for being an inspiration and sharing a glimpse of God’s kingdom in another part of the world that we would otherwise never know.
God’s Peace, Donna
Michele@From the Unpaved Road says
Thank YOU Donna for praying with us and for us. Truly we can’t do what we do over here without our whole family from all over the world standing with us. It is so precious to me to know you are praying and have been blessed. Thank you for sharing!
Roberta says
Wow Michelle…I follow your blog and pray for you and all those that you serve everytime I read your posts. Hope is found in the strangest places and it seems, at the times you least expect it to come. I’ve shared an older post about how the homeless here in my hometown bring me hope. Wishing you all the best. Fondly, Roberta
Michele@From the Unpaved Road says
Thank you so much Roberta!
Arlene Tatum says
I went to Rwanda, Africa this summer for 4 weeks and was involved in serving in a variety of areas. The effects of the 1994 genocide are evident in the lives of so many there who are dying of HIV/AIDS because they were purposely infected as a matter of torture. And yet their singing, dancing and joy at still being alive is evident everywhere I went and always spoke into my heart. In Rwanda there is a “lack” of everything from clean water to food to schooling for orphans without family’s. And yet, and yet the heart stealing smiles and laughter are everywhere and they are all “teachers” to me. Am I really thankful to God for my very life each day and for even the smallest blessing? I must not take them for granted!!!
Michele@From the Unpaved Road says
Arlene what a beautiful journey that must have been! I can so relate. I learn from my little ones so much every day.
When You Want To Chuck the Yuck says
[…] Perry, the missionary mentioned above, shares part of her story at (in)courage today. Read about her wondrous work done in the name of Jesus and link up your own at-home or far-away […]
Kristen says
Girl, what a Love story your life is. Thank you for showing me how to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our Lord. You are a wonder, Friend!
Michele@From the Unpaved Road says
Awwwww Kristen- here is big squishy hug from from Wales 😉 More to follow in person soon enough!
Christy says
Love this! Thank you Michele. I’ve made an entry from my blog above.
August share… « A Beautiful Mess says
[…] out Michele Perry’s blog “from the unpaved road” she has a beautiful post over at (in)courage today that made me tear up this […]