SEPTEMBER 22, 2005
"...But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both
alike to You."
Psalm 139:12b
Today is the last day for our group
to minister at the Tea House. It seems
to me that our time here has flown by.
We have our time of devotions and
spend more time in prayer today. We pray
for the refugees, and for the staff, and
for us.
For the last time we set up for the
Tea House. Today again I am helping to
make the bag lunches. Today it is pita
bread wrapped with feta cheese and green
olives. Instead of a tomato we are
giving them a cucumber. The tea is
already on the stove, two big pots,
later they will pour in lots of sugar.
Scott calls everyone to prayer. He
thanks our team. It makes me feel good,
yet unworthy too. What have we done
really? A few days here is but a drop in
the bucket...Scott's prayer and those
who have prayed are so heart felt, each
day I have felt inspired by God, and the
work He is doing here.
We are given our daily tasks. Karen,
Marco, and I will work in the kitchen
with Tatiana Kalandzieva. Tatiana and
Jim d'Ingerthrorpe take turns in the
kitchen, today is Tatiana turn. We
finish making the lunch bags, and get
the tea ready.
The doors open. It is slow at first.
There are many who I recognize, and they
know me now. The one man that I had
spilt a little tea on his bag that we
had given him always smiles at me and
says "no tea, no tea."
Now it is busy, many come in, but
don't stay, they take their bags of food
and leave. The place is getting busy.
Two men ask for more sugar for their
tea. One puts about a 1/3 of his cup
filled with sugar and I pour his tea in
and he stirs it, the other man doesn't
even use the spoon he dumps about half a
cup of sugar in, and I pour the tea in.
He smiles and says good, good. It is
hard for me not to make a face, the tea
is so sweet already.
On the T.V.'s today they are showing
the Jesus video, some watch, many are
talking with their friends, the children
are running around. The women usually
all sit together. Some men play chess.
Dan and Eddie usually play chess with
the men. Marco is out talking with some
of the men now, since there is nothing
to do until we wash the cups. Nelson
likes to take the pitcher of tea around
to fill up the cups. I use to do that,
but today I am just pouring tea as they
come to the window.
We run out of bags of food. Tatiana
says we can make more, there are some
pitas left so we scramble to make up
some. I am thinking of the young man on
Tuesday who came in and didn't get a bag
lunch, because there was no more. He was
so thin. He only got tea. I can still
see his face, and his thin body. The
look of utter hopelessness..I had asked
if I could give him a tomato, but it was
to late as he had left. This will always
be with me, his face.
There is a young Sudanese boy about
10 or 11 who sits and watches the Jesus
video all day. He comes every Tuesday
and Thursday alone, and gets a bag lunch
for three, as his parents work all day.
I wonder what he does on the other days
when the Tea House isn't open.
Now we say goodbye to everyone. So many
memories I will carry with me and I know
each member of my team will carry with
them special memories that will always
be in their hearts.
I am so tired! I am so thankful when
I get into bed. What a wonderful day the
Lord has given to us. I think of the
verse I wrote this morning before any of
this day began...
"...But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both
alike to You."
Psalm 139:12b
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