Broken World

I left Europe out completely, and then Mariama dropped this eggy world twice. I guess it's been broken, more than once. It seems appropriate on Easter...to talk about a broken world because we celebrate the One who came to heal it!  He often uses his body to make it happen.  Here are some healing memories from this Easter in Nigeria.

Seeking.  Such a super fun part of Easter for me growing up was the seeking.  Seeking my Easter basket, chocolate Easter bunny, seeking the eggs we died. Easter is also about seeking. Mary seeking Jesus at the tomb, Peter dashing in to find it empty, Thomas seeking for proof.  The great thing is, they find him, but not where or how they expected.  At our morning sunrise gathering at our house, we sought beautifully coloured eggs, but the most exciting thing is that we sought fellowship with one another, we sought to glorify God, we sought healing for ourselves and our country as we prayed together. 

Lydia had her first Easter.  God brings his healing through creating families.  May God bring healing to this broken world through his children, through our family. 

 In a world where the color of one's skin seems to matter so much, Mariama has made a dear friend in Pastor's daughter, Yekan.  As soon as Mariama enters the church compound, Yekan runs to her with her arms open wide, wrapping her up in a hug.  This Easter, they were excited that they both were wearing pink bows.  They pointed and giggled for a long time before chasing each other around the still empty back rows.

 When things needed to be calmer, they drew together.  Jesus has "made the two one". He has healed relationships and brought us close in Christ.

 About 15 children came to the house to decorate Easter eggs.  Zach showed some videos and we discussed them in Hausa and English.  One little girl said she wanted to ask Jesus to be her Savior. I love how Jesus heals our bias toward children as he says again and again how much he values them.  Here is another loved one, choosing to be his.  May she follow him all the days of her life.

 We enjoy a lot of laughter and joy from these neighborhood children who visit our compound.  This too is a healing.  We need their laughter, and they need our care.  Praise God for how his healing is shared by all of his people, big and little.

"Art" is not something these children get to do very often, yet their lives are very artful.  The way they sing, drum, move, tell stories, draw, create ways to extend the use of an object, and play shows God's creative heart in each of them.  God is still in the process of healing through creating beauty and shining beauty in his creation. 

We are thankful that God, through his Son, is bringing healing and making the world look more like this beautifully decorated egg. Whole. Everyone included.  (Compliments of Zach's geologically sound brain.)