A Celebration
Dec 31st, 2009 by kelley johnson
We joined our friend in Matara yesterday to celebrate together. We gathered in a makeshift meeting room, covered with blue tarps and fragrant with eucalyptus from the fresh branches woven into walls.
There were prayers offered in thanksgiving.
A children’s choir singing, with school uniforms transformed into choir robes!
There was drumming…
…lots of drumming!
Testimonies of God’s goodness were shared.
“Once we had no land, now we have land with homes and crops and fresh water!”
“Last year we had no shoes, but this year we all have shoes to wear!”
Some of the testimonies were quite animated, bursting with such joy!
All gathered together were thankful for the transformed landscape, for move from landlessness to home-land. All looked healthier than they did just 7 months ago. All were eager to break bread together in celebration… this time it would be roasted beef, bugari and Fanta!
Soon after this photo was taken, we ate. And then it rained – a huge, pounding rain. We all huddled into the center of the tent, clustered under the blue tarps to stay dry. There was a lot of laughing as we waited out the rains together. But I was reminded, once again, that rain is a sign of blessing. How appropriate to be rained on as we came together to give thanks – to be reminded that God’s blessings will continue to rain down on us all in the New Year!
Wish we could have been there! How special to hear the blessings that have come in 2009! And I love the symbolism of the rain!! God is good!
Wow! It is almost like being there seeing the pictures and reading your words. God is good and he loves us so much. If only all the people of the world could understand how much he loves us. Thank you for keeping me updated on my dear friends at Matara, my African home.
I love that the rain poured on Matara after the celebration! What a beautiful celebration!
So excited to share with you guys in celebrating all the work God is doing. Sending all my love, hugs, and prayers to you and my dear friends, the Batwa.
How sweet it must have been to be present for this! Thank you so much for sharing it with us through your words and photos. Can’t wait to meet my friends someday!