Just stir

I keep thinking of my previous post and Tresor's words

"My first Christmas in America, I was a little surprised to see the importance of "stuff" during holidays while where I came from "food" was what most hoped for."

My heart hurts at my excess.  Still it hurts.  Not as raw it did back in January when I was there looking into their eyes and seeing God's heartbeat in those dark brown orbs that searched my face for hope.  But it is still there.  The ache of who I left behind.

That ache hurts the most when I run into the inaction.  Either my own inaction or the general sense of inaction that seems to be gripping so many people and churches.  Emotions fester taking me to a lonely place where I feel misunderstood.  Where I am challenged beyond myself to find a purpose for why I don't belong?  Why my heart beats so differently?!  I struggle with a status quo I can't beat.  The inaction weighs heavy on my heart as I face an empty pew that used to hold those dear to me.  Bitterness creeps in that I weep alone on Orphan Sunday.  I grieve as I feel the rawness fade and pray God to rekindle it and help me to always remember to ACT.

"If Christians believe that God is in every person, why don't we act like that? Why do we turn our eyes from the poor, the widows, the orphans, and the prostitutes? Although prayer is necessary and helps bring comfort, it's not enough to truly alleviate suffering. God didn't send His Son to pray for us but rather to act for us. The only thing that upsets me more than downright evil acts are people who allow injustice to happen with their inaction. Jesus transformed God's message into action, and it should be our mission to devote our lives to similar action." -- Becky, antitrafficking activist in India (taken from Batterson, Mark (2009-03-30). Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God)

Why don't we ACT like that?  I can't get this question out of my mind. 

I am having one of those weeks.  A heart-wrenching, attached to the DRC by the heartstrings, kind of week. Yes, this normally happens when I know people that are in-country and I long to span the oceans and be there as well.  So many needs poured out in my path and I feel burdened.  I feel the sense of urgency in my spirit.  I am chasing God.  I know He is leading, but where?  I still have one project that sits before me clearly, yet still much more is in uncharted territory. 

Ohh the words of truth found in those lines.... "Jesus transformed God's message into ACTION" and how I am ready for that and scared all at the same time.  For since my return from the Congo I have not quit asking.. ok what next God?  However, lately I have allowed to be distracted and dissuaded as I battled in a place of fear and failure.  Why is my response always fear?  Or accepting failure from people who are not my judge?  Why do I always stammer out my weaknesses in lame attempts to some how dissuade God that He chose the wrong person?  For every time He counters my "I can't" with "Yeah, you can't but I certainly can through you" and well what do you do with that?  You have a choice run away, stay caged or submit and trust.

All those questions of my jumbled heart led me to this piercing question -- "When will we stand up and confess that our inaction is an insult to the very action that took Jesus to the cross?"

And then a second question, "How do we counter this inaction?"

I have identified with the stories of the prophets as I have been reading... Ezekial, Daniel, Hosea, Amos.... and attributes of their story deeply resonated with me.  Simply put.....they were stirrers.  They stirred up the people to repent, to listen, to obey, to find their passion of loving God again. Today as I was praying and wondering "what's next?".. God whispered...just keep stirring.

If you don't know me by now (does an old country song come to mind?) I have a deep desire to share my passion of loving orphans & the Congo with others, but get this, I am just as excited about helping others find their passion!  I just don't buy that people are inactive on purpose.  It eases into the crevices of comfort and complacency.  It hides in churches with a caged purpose.  No matter how it wriggles in we must battle it.    

I am currently battling with the passion thieves of this world.  Fear and circumstance come to mind but my issue lately is the ski-masked believers in the church that are looting the joy of others.  I truly believe their demise to robbery is the result of their own inaction.  Why in the world are people bent on thinking that their calling in life is to rain on peoples dreams, ministry, or God's plan for their families?!  In all honesty there is nothing that irks my noodle more then those naysayers... but I am beginning to understand that passion threatens the inaction.  Passion moves you past a place of compassion to action. There would be a lot less naysayers if we as Christians were choosing to put God's mission and message into action.  You see when you are "acting" you are so focused on following God that your focus isn't on what others are doing but on what God wants you to do. 

So here is the deal... I can't defeat the naysayers in my life, nor in my church.  I can pray for them to be stirred.  I can't control how I am perceived or misunderstood, but I can stay true to my passion despite the critics because the strength of Christ resides in me.  I can't make people crave loving orphans like I do but but I can keep sharing my story and opportunities that could lead to an addiction.  I can counter the inaction and joy stealing by simply being a stirrer.  Whether it cooks up to loving orphans, serving in the community, hosting a small group, taking dinner to a single mom, reading the Bible in a year, going on a mission trip, or sending cards of encouragement..(the possibilities are endless) -- know that God has a specific recipe of passion for you.  You just have to be willing to be stirred.  Sometimes the willing and wanting is not enough.  Sometimes we need a friend to give us a spoon and say "Just stir!"  I want to be that friend.

Are you tired of naysayers and the idleness that seem to be in the crevices of a lot of believers?  Well, it is time to start countering this by handing out some spoons.  Or maybe you are reading this and realize you need to stir your own pot.  Either way, will you join me and be a passion stirrer, in your own life or in the life of others?  Will you help to stop inaction in our own lives and in the lives of the others? 

Therefore I remind you that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the laying on of my hands. 2 Timothy 1:6

We need to lay some hands on some sisters, some brothers and get some passion stirring :-)  I need sisters and brothers to lay some hands on me to keep my passion stirring.  We need to pray up some passion and pray down some inaction.  No more complaining about the problem and playing woe is me... I have a new mission to hand out some spoons!

Here you go, you can have the first one... "Just stir!"

Guest Post: Holidays in the DRC

I am just honored to have  Trésor Yenyi guest posting on the blog today.  Please join me by giving him a warm welcome.  He has agreed to guest post once in awhile to help us learn more about the Democratic Republic of Congo.  His perspective is unique as he was born in Eastern Congo and now lives in the states.  He is founder of Mwangaza International and also wrote the eye-opening book: "Journey to the Heart of Darkness".

With the holidays approaching, I have been wondering how to include Zalen's culture into our American traditions so I wrote to Trésor for some insight.  So pull up a chair and we will learn a bit more about the holidays/traditions of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A moment to remember...
"Do you celebrate Halloween?" or "What do you eat for Thanksgiving?" These are questions people often ask me when they want to know about holidays in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Holidays are important milestones for a culture. A moment to remember the past and celebrate the joyful and painful moments of history. Each culture has in its own context dates that are important. Having adopted the Christian calendars, all major christian holidays are celebrated in Congo. There are slight differences on what they mean for a child. There are also holidays that are peculiar to the Congolese people.

CHRISTMAS

Growing up in Congo, we did not have a chance to always eat a decent meal, to have decent clothes or a good pair of shoes. Christmas or "Noel" as we call it, is for us that one time of the year when we expected and prayed for clothes, shoes and most of all a bottle of coke or fanta. Yes, you read right; soda is a luxury for many in DRC and its an important part of the Christmas meal. Chicken or any meat which are expensive in major cities are always something children expect to eat for Christmas. Parents do their best in December to offer a decent meal and clothes to their children. Some decorate their houses but that's not the most important for the children. Families get together and people visit each other  and make the day a special moment. Christmas is celebrated December 25 except for the Kimbaguist church which
account for about 10% of the Congolese population, their Christmas is May 25.

NEW YEAR

New Year or "Nouvel an" is another major celebration. People either wait for midnight at home or they go for an all night prayer at the church. Bars and pubs also make special arrangement for the celebration. Everyone tries to have the loudest music and at the midnight every one screams "Bonne annee!!!" with hope that the new year will bring more hope than the previous one.

EASTER

The strong Catholic influence makes Easter a very important holiday in the Congo. On Good Friday, thousands of catholics do the Via Dolorosa. Easter itself is more family oriented. Churches hold services then families share a meal at home. My family took that opportunity to visit cousins and friends we had not seen for a while or to go visit our relatives at the army camp.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Our independence day June 30 is the most important celebration of the year. In each city a military parade is organized. the parade last for hours. When the military has completed its parade, civilians have theirs. The radio plays music from 1960 when congolese musicians wrote songs to immortalize the day of independence. Those who have TVs can watch documentaries about independence. Families get together, friends visit each other. The elderly tell stories to the younger generations.

PARENTS DAY

August 1st is another important date in the congo; It's parents day. There  is a twofold meaning to the day. In the morning families remember their loved ones who passed away. most people go to the cemetery with their children to remember those who are no longer there. the afternoon is dedicated to parents who are still alive. Children honor their parents with gifts if they can or just their presence. Parents usually tell stories of their youth or talk about grandparents who have gone to be with the Lord.

OTHER IMPORTANT DATES

Other dates are commemorated in DRC such as January 4th when we remember the martyrs of our independence. January 16 and 17, are dedicated to our national heroes Patrice Lumumba and Laurent Desire Kabila. This past decade has seen Valentine's day become very popular in major cities like Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. March 8, International women's day have become an important day in Congo. women take the opportunity to raise awareness about the situation of women in eastern congo. A parade is organized in each major city to celebrate Congolese women.

HOLIDAYS NOT CELEBRATED

To answer the two questions from the beginning...Congolese do not celebrate Halloween and Thanksgiving. 


In Conclusion:
   Family, friends and food are definitely the most important part of the celebrations. Parents do their best to make sure that regardless of the situation their children have at least a decent meal for the special day. Despite their effort, many parents are unable to feed their children on those special day. My first Christmas in America, I was a little surprised to see the importance of "stuff" during holidays while where I came from "food" was what most hoped for.

Thoughts from Tessy:  I don't know about you but not only did I learn from an unique perspective about holidays in the DRC I was also touched deeply to do something for the children this Christmas.  Trésor did not ask me to do this but I want to share with you a way you can bless some children in the Congo this Christmas.  Seems a small thing to do, buying a child a soda.  But I have seen first hand the smiles of delight a Fanta can bring and it wasn't no small thing.



Trésor will be taking a few teams to the Congo and will be delivering these gifts to the children in December.  You can donate by clicking the button above and it will take you to Mwangaza International home page. 

Trésor Yenyi was born in Eastern Congo in 1983 at the peak of Mobutu’s reign. Not realizing he was witnessing history in the making, he was helpless as he observed the country slide first into chaos, then into its grave—the victim of looting, war, and corruption. It was only after he immigrated to the United States that he realized the depth of the destruction that had occurred and began nurturing a strong desire to return to his native country to search for a cure for the disease from which Congo suffers. In his compelling travel narrative, Yenyi details his return trips to Congo, his subsequent charitable work, and the heartbreaking stories of the country’s victims of war. While providing the voiceless a chance to speak through him, Yenyi reveals the humanitarian challenges of Congo and combines his life experiences with journal entries—creating an introspective glimpse into a world where child soldiers, rape victims, street children, and AIDS orphans are the realities of life. Trésor Yenyi has a dream—that the troubled land of his ancestors will find peace once again. It is with this great hope for the future of his homeland that Yenyi remembers Congo’s forgotten.

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