A letter from Kari Nicewander in Zambia
Christmas 2013
Dear Friends,
This is Isaac. Isaac is adorable. Just plain straight up crazy cute. And he spends a lot of time at our house.
Yesterday, I was working from home, there were nine kids in the house, a pretty normal afternoon. The older boys were painting at the dining room table, some other kids were coloring, and others were playing foosball. (Yes, we have a foosball table in our home. It is a loan from very kind neighbors...)
Sitting at my desk, trying to write curriculum, I could hear the noise of the ball flying across the wooden stadium, children arguing over crayons, and the older kids, occasionally showing one another their creations. From time to time, one of the young artists would bring in a masterpiece for me to admire. Again, a pretty normal afternoon.
Just as I am working on a story application for Jesus' healing of the 10 lepers, Isaac walks in. I am ready for him to ask for an apple, to ask for more crayons, to ask me to make the other boys share the foosball table. "What do you want, Isaac?" I ask him, as he is one who is usually full of demands. Really, he is so crazy adorable, he can get away with this. He looks up at me with his enormous eyes and replies, "Auntie, I want up." I need clarification on this. Not a banana? Not a toy? Not a glass of water? "What do you want, Isaac?"
Mealtime prayers
"Up, Auntie. I want up." Well, okay then. I lift him onto my lap, and he becomes an octopus, arms tight around my back, legs around my waist. "You just want up, Isaac? I am just going to be working here." He nods and says, "Yes. I just want up."
And so, I turn to the computer and commence with the rather challenging task of writing curriculum while embracing a four year old child, who is clinging to me like a life raft. His brother comes in, trying to pry him away with a few toys, but Isaac will not budge. He just wants up. He just wants to be held. He just wants to rest in someone else's arms for awhile.
I didn't get a lot of writing done, but in holding little Isaac, I realized how much I am like him. None of the toys or crayons or foosball tables or paints or apples or bananas in the world can really satisfy me. I can keep gathering things together, and try to build up a life that makes me feel safe. I can have a healthy savings account, a good safety net, a reliable car. But mostly, I just want up. I just want to be held. I just want to rest in someone else's arms for a while.
And the arms that have always held me are those amazing arms of love that never fail. The one who will lift me up is the One who is always there, no matter what, no matter how I fail. When I just need to be held, I know that God is there to hold me. And when I say, "Auntie, I want up!" God is waiting with open arms.
Merry Christmas from the Nicewander Dejong Family
Love is what we need. Open arms, open hearts, open lives. Open to the power and strength and gentleness of God. Open to loving one another.
Isaac was not satisfied with any of the things in the house. What he needed was love, arms wrapped around him, the promise that he is not alone. I know that I have never been truly satisfied by any of the things in the world, either. What I need is love, arms wrapped around me, the promise that I am never alone. And I am so grateful to follow a God who offers this time and time again. No matter what, no matter where, no matter who, when we say, "Auntie, I want up!" God is ready with open arms.
This Christmas, as you celebrate with many things, and perhaps receive the blessing of presents and good food, take some time to think about what you really want for Christmas. I am guessing that perhaps, you really want "up." Up into the arms of God, up into the presence of peace, up into the reality of God's hope, God's love, God's joy. Up! That is my wish for you this Christmas. Up into the presence of God.
The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, Synod of Zambia, has lifted me up, time and time again, into the arms of our amazing God. Not only me, but so many people in this country have been lifted up, out of poverty, out of pain, out of loneliness, by our amazing partners, CCAP Zambia. They have been the hands of Christ, feeding the hungry and healing the sick. They have been the voice of God, proclaiming peace and hope and forgiveness. They have been the presence of the Spirit, radiating faithfulness and compassion. Here, in Zambia, I feel lifted up, I feel God's arms around me, I feel that I am being held. It is an amazing privilege to bear witness to the work of the Holy Spirit in this place.
So, this Christmas, I especially want to thank you for your role in lifting us up. You have prayed for us, you have written to us, you have given us financial gifts; you lift us up, and we are so grateful. We ask that you continue to do this. And if you are not already, please consider lifting us up with prayer, with correspondence, and with financial support. As you lift us up, we will continue to work with CCAP Zambia to also lift up others, so that all of God's precious children know that they are loved, they are held, they are never alone.
Merry Christmas and may God hold you and keep you today and always!
God bless,
Joel, Kari, Frankie, and Johnny
The 2013 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 115
Read more about Kari Nicewander and Joel DeJong's ministry
Blog: http://lovinglusaka.blogspot.com/
Write to Kari Nicewander
Write to Joel DeJong
Individuals: Give online to E200492 for Kari Nicewander and Joel DeJong's sending and support
Congregations: Give to D507557 for Kari Nicewander and Joel DeJong's sending and support
