We live bent low

On Friday we returned to Tra Giac and got to meet a number of the students and teachers.

It was both wonderful and heart-breaking all at the same time. We interviewed a boy who, when asked what he would like to be when he finished school, said:

Either a professional footballer or a Doctor. A footballer, because that’s my passion. And a Doctor because the health centre here is so poor.

We visited the health centre the day before, and to say it was ‘poor’ is something of an understatement.

To be honest, I’m still processing it all. And at this point I’ll let the photo’s tell some of the story.

For me, what tells the rest of the story and communicates my heart was something that I heard this morning.

We went to Danang International Fellowship for a 10.30am service. The worship leader read something from a blog that she follows that spoke to me so deeply I don’t think I could ever articulate it any better myself. It’s written by Katie Davis, Founder of Amazima Ministries International, who is doing phenomenal work in Uganda.

“Around here, we live bent low.

We bend.

I bend to sweep crumbs and I bend to wipe vomit and I bend to pick up little ones and wipe away tears.

I bend over a big pot of stew and I bend to fold endless laundry and I bend over math books and spelling sentences and history quiz corrections.

And at the end of these days I bend next to the bed and I ask only that I could bend more, bend lower.

Because I serve a Savior who came to be a servant.

He lived bent low. And bent down here is where I see His face.

He lived, only to die.

Could I?
Die to self and just break open for love.

This Savior, His one purpose to spend Himself on behalf of messy us.

Will I spend myself on behalf of those in front of me?

And people say, “Don’t you get tired?” and yes, I do.
But I’m face to face with Jesus in the dirt, and the more I bend the harder and better and fuller this life gets.

And sure, we are tired, but oh we are happy.
Because bent down low is where we find fullness of Joy.”

If we are serious about who we are, who we are called to be and our relationship with the people of Tra Giac – then we will need to bend low.