New Year

After teaching for a few weeks in Angola, we were stopped at the border on our way back.

“Ma’am, you have to take off your shoes and socks, I want to look between your toes!”

“What?!?” Who wants to be looking between my size 7 sausage toes?

But soon it became clear: they were looking for brute diamonds. The contraband was on

its peak. It made me angry and sad at the same time. Angola, a beautiful country, so rich in oil and diamonds, should be one of the wealthiest countries if it weren’t for the corruption.

I had the same feeling when I drove through the capital of Haiti and saw the need among the people. A tremendous earthquake in a gorgeous land, also known as the pearl of the Caribbean, where hundreds of years of corruption had ruled, the poor were very poor, the rich very rich…

And I also recognize this around me, here in Brazil, where the slums rise in the midst of huge rich neighborhood; where there are still kids living on the streets; where people with a handicap suffer prejudice; where girls and boys are sold to work as slaves in prostitution…

This makes me angry. Angry at the devil, who comes to steal, kill and destroy. But wait a second! There is Hope! Jesus came for the people in Angola, Haiti and Brazil; He came for us! Emmanuel, God with us, what a privilege to be able to carry out this hope. To see true difference where we can work along our coworkers and reach out for children in need.

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news. Even when you have sausage toes!

We wish you all a New Year in which we together can carry out His life, love and hope.