2015-03-30
With bacon and banana filled tummies, we left for Jordan. On the airport we found out that our entire route got changed because war broke out in Yemen. [This is probably the right time to say: A LIFE LIKE NO OTHER]
After 32 hours of travelling, and no sleep due to the fact that Geneke and I would rather explore and take selfies with stuffed camels on Dohas airport.
Jordan, oh Jordan!!
I have always wondered why people living in the desert, paint their houses the color of the desert. It just doesn't make any sense to me!! Coming from a country that is a oasis of color, this was completely foreign to me. [pun intended]
Our volunteering work started with my first meeting with arabic chai.. Strong black tea with TONS of sugar.. But it didn't prepare me for my first meeting with Syrian refugees. I don't think anything can ever prepare you for the sight of utter defeat and hopelessness you see in someones eyes..
Stories of war, of little children being killed so the rebels or army can make an example of what happens when you don't choose the right side.. Stories of week long travels from Syria to Jordan in the icy desert winter. You think life is tough? It felt like someone hit me in the face with a fish.. I have not known despair, but I've seen it, in the eyes of a refugee.
But hope really floats. The church we joined up with makes it their mission to make sure the Syrians have mattresses to sleep on, stoves, blankets, mats and food. It seems like little, but to a refugee who left his whole life and everything he owned to come look for "greener pastures" so his children can have a better life....to them, it looks like hope..
Days were long and listening to heart breaking stories made me realise that the only place I can ever gain strength from, is in the arms of Jesus. One of my favourite songs is a song called Ceces lullaby by Stephanie Gretzinger, and the word's playing in my ears at night confirmed the truth already set in my heart, REST IN HIS ARMS.
In the midst of chaos and stories, I started looking around me, and I saw.........COLOR. Blurts of turquoise and yellow popped out of the walls and gates as we drove out to distributions, and I realised that God was "flirting" in a way only I would understand. He was telling me something.
If you know me well enough, you'd know those are my two favorite colors. And the significance of it being in the dusty, dry Jordan will never be random. I decided to ask God what it means, and He was ever faithful.
YELLOW: It's use in scripture lends itself to symbolically being gold or something of great value.. Yellow is LIGHT. I am light because I have LIGHT within. The LIGHT of the world.
TURQUOISE: River of God, sanctification, healing, life-giving flow of the Holy Spirit, the New Jerusalem.
Searching for His heart in this, I learned that this is what God dreams over Jordan and Syria. He is the light in this dark place, He gives water to the thirsty, and He heals the broken hearted!!!!
JABULANI SYRIA!