Joy Will Come

Just like every other job or place of employment, working can become tedious--a checklist, if you will. Lately, I have had my checklist of things to accomplish, and I've been carefully sticking to it because I know I won't remember everything I have to complete. The unfortunate part is that even in ministry, where my heart is so heavy for these kids, I can get wrapped up in the "list" of things I need to do today. I forget the purpose and I forget the emotional connection I have to this country and the children. I get so wrapped up that I'm rushing around and I don't even focus on glorifying God in my day. (This is a bit of a confession obviously)

The best part: No matter what I'm doing, God tends to humble me, bring me back to reality, and remind me of why I'm here. Yesterday, I had one of those experiences. My job was to go around to each school checking out the desks, the kids, and talking to the school coordinator. I was checking off my list and writing down my notes all day. Then we went to Kanyama. If you've been here before, you know that Kanyama is a very dark place--deep into witch craft and satanism. I can feel the devil's presence when I'm there. As we drove through, one of my favorite songs came one: Joy Will Come by Desperation Band. Here are the lyrics:

Joy will come in the morning
Riding on the wings of the dawn
I know
Joy will come after mourning
Surely as You are God
Joy will come, believe
Joy will come, joy will come

Joy will come like the harvest
Reaping for the tears that we've sown
I know
Joy will run to the farthest place
Surely as You are God.
Joy will come, believe
Joy will come, joy will come.

What is the joy I feel
It's helping
What is this peace beyond
Understanding
You fixed this broken heart
There's healing
In your wings.

What is this whisper small
I'm hearing
So far above it all
It's speaking
You're still the sovereign Lord
There's healing in your wings.

While driving, we blared this song through Kanyama. I felt like I was crying tears of hatred for the devil and tears of joy for the people because I believe joy will come in that area. I KNOW it. God is more powerful that any attempt the devil could ever make in destroying those people. We passed hundreds of souls that just looked dead inside...they looked like nothing was worth living for anymore. The world had completely taken over their minds and thoughts. My heart was so heavy the entire time I was there. In fact, we just put this song on repeat and I cried the whole time. I saw children playing on heaps of trash, women slouched down in front of their homes with the look of defeat, men crowding the doors of the taverns completely drunk at 3:00 in the afternoon. The farther we drove, the more overwhelmed I became.

When we stopped at our school in Kanyama, I was a mess. I collected my emotions and went inside to speak to the teachers. What I heard completely shocked me. A beautiful sound radiated through the courtyard of the school. More than fifty sweet little voices protruded from the building. I walked into a classroom and every orphan child lit up. Their voices sang louder as they snapped and clapped. They were singing songs for the Lord. Praising God for His grace, and singing with joy in their hearts. I sang and clapped with them. I even did a little dance in the classrooms. It was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

When I stepped out of the school and back into the movement of people, I was overwhelmed with the sense of the devil again. We blared the song all the way through the compound until we reached the end. As we pulled away from Kanyama, I couldn't help but think: That place is a playground for the devil, but that school is a safe haven for those kids. PRAISE our Almighty God because He IS moving and coming to the aid of His children--right in the middle of their chaos.