on the edge of a city in ethiopia called addis is a community of people who live in the city dump. this community is known as korah. korah has been said by some to mean "cursed" another interpretation of this word means "baldness or bare." there are references to korah that associate it with rebellion in the bible as well. needless to say, a community being called korah wass not intended as a blessing.
many years ago when leprosy was striking fear in the heart of many, claiming limbs and well-being, the government of ethiopia forced a move of all the lepers to this city dump. leprosy is no longer such an epidemic, but, generations have since been born in this community. they then have children here, and there are 3rd and 4th generation families living in this actively used city dump. what is striking is the great amount of joy that exudes from the faces of the children here. despite what story the physical environment tells of.
within this community is a hospital and also school rooms. ministries have formed to serve these beautiful people in hopes that this will begin the freeing of them from such conditions through education. and there are amazing people there right now serving this community. i recall stepping off our bus the first time we visited korah and the children coming running, smiling, glowing, laughing, giggling, eyes shinning. we would scoop them up in our arms and hug them tight. they would sit in our laps as we sang songs like "Jesus loves us", and one of my favorites, a song a fellow team member taught them, along the lines of "the church, the church, the church is on fire!" during which, the tiny 10 foot by 10 foot classroom we were in became one large mosh-pit of jumping and celebration.
a heart wrenching example of the love these children have: one would not be shocked to hear that being within the korah community brings one to become somewhat covered in dirt, mud, and....well....so on.....yet still, upon holding one precious girl, a team meber recalls this small girl using her dress to clean the team members hands on after seeing they were dirty from picking her up. also, after picking up an especially cute and active boy, i had a path of, well, errrr.....a lot of stuff from my arm, down my side, down my leg, and so on. i was too captivated with this little guy's precious heart and smile and joy to care or even notice. i didn't notice until some of the other equally precious young children gathered around me started trying to clean this grim and whatnot off of me with their hands and shirts as well. they seemed very concerned that i was dirty (with little notice or care of their own dirt, as if i was any better then them--if truth be known, it is i with my wretched heart who truly "deserves" to live in a dump). i could have cared less about this grim; my only care was hugging, smiling and hand holding.
mother theresa once said "live simply so that others may simply live." there is so little that we truly need in life. there is so little in korah, and yet so much joy in the eyes of the children there. there is an embodiment of community that we know so little of. what we need, is to be the hands and feet of Jesus. at life's end, i want to leave this world with as little worldy possessions as possible, but a heart full of love and service.
many years ago when leprosy was striking fear in the heart of many, claiming limbs and well-being, the government of ethiopia forced a move of all the lepers to this city dump. leprosy is no longer such an epidemic, but, generations have since been born in this community. they then have children here, and there are 3rd and 4th generation families living in this actively used city dump. what is striking is the great amount of joy that exudes from the faces of the children here. despite what story the physical environment tells of.
within this community is a hospital and also school rooms. ministries have formed to serve these beautiful people in hopes that this will begin the freeing of them from such conditions through education. and there are amazing people there right now serving this community. i recall stepping off our bus the first time we visited korah and the children coming running, smiling, glowing, laughing, giggling, eyes shinning. we would scoop them up in our arms and hug them tight. they would sit in our laps as we sang songs like "Jesus loves us", and one of my favorites, a song a fellow team member taught them, along the lines of "the church, the church, the church is on fire!" during which, the tiny 10 foot by 10 foot classroom we were in became one large mosh-pit of jumping and celebration.
a heart wrenching example of the love these children have: one would not be shocked to hear that being within the korah community brings one to become somewhat covered in dirt, mud, and....well....so on.....yet still, upon holding one precious girl, a team meber recalls this small girl using her dress to clean the team members hands on after seeing they were dirty from picking her up. also, after picking up an especially cute and active boy, i had a path of, well, errrr.....a lot of stuff from my arm, down my side, down my leg, and so on. i was too captivated with this little guy's precious heart and smile and joy to care or even notice. i didn't notice until some of the other equally precious young children gathered around me started trying to clean this grim and whatnot off of me with their hands and shirts as well. they seemed very concerned that i was dirty (with little notice or care of their own dirt, as if i was any better then them--if truth be known, it is i with my wretched heart who truly "deserves" to live in a dump). i could have cared less about this grim; my only care was hugging, smiling and hand holding.
mother theresa once said "live simply so that others may simply live." there is so little that we truly need in life. there is so little in korah, and yet so much joy in the eyes of the children there. there is an embodiment of community that we know so little of. what we need, is to be the hands and feet of Jesus. at life's end, i want to leave this world with as little worldy possessions as possible, but a heart full of love and service.
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