All people matter.

The Internally Displaced People

My wife Kathy and I serve people both in Napa and around the world through education, food, medical outreach, and prayer.  It is rewarding to be able to make a difference in the lives we touch.  We soon appreciate the beauty that is in all people regardless of where they live or their economic condition. All people matter.

The photos above are from our visit to a refugee camp of people who lost their homes during the election violence in Kenya in 2008. Kenya has been a beacon of hope for democracy in Africa.  That is what made the violence at the end of the 2008 presidential election so very disappointing.  One tribal group accused the other of cheating and "mass action" was called for.  Entire villages were burned and people raped and murdered simply based on their tribal and related political affiliation.

The "internally displaced people" (IDP) camp is where those who fled their homes came.  They did not feel they could return home.  At the time of our visit, it had been about a year since the violence.

Our team provided health care, prayer, and teaching just outside the camp.  We also visited the camp, praying with people in their tents and hearing their stories.

As we walked through the camp, our friend Ray Dodson trailed behind with his camera taking most of the photos in the slide show above.

As we walked, a little girl took my hand.  She was dirty in appearance with drool running slowly from her mouth and collecting dirt as it ran down to her dress.  She was perhaps the most challenged looking child we saw. But despite her appearance she was strong in spirit.  She held tightly to my hand and fought off the other kids wanting to take her place as we walked through the camp.  We stopped as I began visiting with a larger group of adults.  As I was speaking, my wife caught my attention and told me to look down. To my surprise this little girl was slapping the dust off my pant legs.  She then bent down and wiped the dust off my shoes with her hands, grabbed my pant leg and attempted to lift me up.  I cooperated and tilted as she lifted my leg and the crowd gasped.  I then lifted her in the air but she was not  interested in playing so I set her down and she walked away,.

The moment passed but I had an awareness that something more had just happened, something significant had just been communicated.  

As we returned from the trip and I reflected on the encounter, I had a strong sense that my friend Ray Dodson caught her in a photo and that that photo would have a message.  It was as if I had already seen the photo. He was at least 100 yards behind me with hundreds of kids around so it was not reasonable to expect.  Yet with confidence, I searched through his photos and found he had taken this picture of her shown to the right.  The manner in which she holds her hands out spoke directly to me and confirmed what was tugging at my heart.   During our entire encounter she mimicked the actions of Christ, even in this "coincidental" photo. 

Over the years I have learned the Holy Spirit can and will touch each of us uniquely and in powerful ways to affirm his presence.  This was one of those moments for me. He lives, he was there, and he held my hand. 

Matt 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’