Day 16

I've missed Day 14 and 15 because of a 24-hour bug. I had to break the fast slightly - I drank 1/4 of an organic ginger ale and ate three whole wheat crackers that had leaven to them. Since neither of them brought me any pleasure in my yucky stat, I believe God forgives me!

On Sunday, we were incredibly blessed to host the Hope for Africa Children's Choir at both of our worship services (look back soon for a link to their performance). The children were amazing in their song, their dance and their testimony. During both services, we passed around the microphone and the children shared briefly the story of their journey to the choir. Without fail, they were heartbreaking. One had a mother who died in childbirth and her father did not have enough to feed her. One boy tried to go to school but the teachers chased him away because he didn't have school fees. A boy and a girl both told of how they had to sleep without blankets and on the ground, even in the mud.

But all of their testimonies began with "I thank God for life and for my health". These children who had known suffering, deprivation and loss that we in this country cannot fathom, all began with smiles and thanking God for the most basic gift - life. This experience of fasting has helped focus me back to the basics - God's provision, God's love, God's grace, life now and eternal we have because of Jesus.

Amazing God, we thank you for life - for breath, for movement, for thought and feeling. Thank you for the gift of the Hope for Africa Children's Choir. Continue to pour out your blessings on the children and adults who form that ministry. Heal their broken places by the power of your great Spirit. Forgive us, oh, forgive us God, for the ways that we fail children around the world every day by our apathy, our bad decisions, our ignorance and our pride. Break open our hard hearts. Turn us toward you and your justice, compassion and mercy, and give us an uneasy heart until all of your children live in peace, safety and love. In the name of your blessed child Jesus, Amen.