Labor of Love

Our friends from Kenya arrived in Nashville on Tuesday, August 28th. We met Robert in school a few years ago. His wife, Alice, and two boys - Roy & Kelvin - stayed in Africa while Robert went to obtain his Masters degree. After two years, Robert rejoined his family in Kenya. Over the last year, Robert believed that God was calling his entire family back to the US and in particular- to Nashville. With that belief, we agreed to be the host family for the Mbugua's. We had no idea what we had in store.

The last two weeks have truly been a "labor of love" for James & myself. We have never worked so hard and, at the same time, have never felt so blessed. The night the Mbugua's arrived at our home (they had traveled over 24 hours) - Robert opened up our time together in a prayer of thanksgiving. And, let me tell you, it was not just any prayer- it was delivered in true African fashion. I told someone the next evening that it even made me want to raise my hands and shout "Hallelujah!" Pretty good for a conservative, hands together worshiper like myself. Their love and passion for God has poured out into our lives as well. They are missionaries here in a dry and thirsty land.

Labor? Who knew how hard it was to enroll two boys from Kenya into the public school system in Nashville? Waiting room after waiting room. Line after line. It seemed as if it would never end. One place would send us back to another and then again and again. It was a vicious cycle. Finally, the youngest, Roy, was able to start Middle School on Wednesday. Kelvin, who is in High School, started on Thursday. I joked with the boys all week that I now know everything about them after all of the forms I completed for them.

If anyone wants to be stripped of their selfish pursuit, then I would strongly recommend helping a family moving to America from another country. I never realized how much of my time, which I would classify as "very busy, is spent on the luxury of self-pleasure. I have realized that we, as Americans, have much to give in terms of material goods but not much left in terms of time. How many times have I said, "I am just way too busy." What am I "busy" with? 90% of my busyness consists of duties and/or pleasures that give ME satisfaction of some sort. Spending time with the Mbugua's has taught me to reevaluate my time. Money will not buy time. But, I have learned this week, that time truly can be one of the greatest gifts of all. May we all think about where our time is going and how we can give it away to those who need it most.