Thomas Merton in Thoughts in Solitude wrote these words, “My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end…I know that…you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.”

We agreed to go and put together a team of 24 and we traveled for thirty hours  by plane, bus, boat, ox cart and even a short hike. We had “no idea where…” we were headed but God had us covered in grace.

The villagers greeted us with dance, song and physical gifts of a western style lavatory, and a special cook so we wouldn’t get sick. Many traveled miles and miles to see us and welcome us. They came.

The sick, the blind, and the lame. They came and came and came. Over 3,000 in two days. The team were ambassadors for our Lord and Savior and people asked, “Why did you travel so far?” Answer: Because we are Christians. Then every so often someone would lean over and whisper “I too am a Christian. Thank you Thank you for coming.”

Of course then the question came: “Will you come back?”

Twentieth-century Catholic journalist Penny Lernoux said, “…It is only by entering into the world-by living in it-that you begin to understand what it is like to be powerless, to be like Christ.” Help us God to stand with and beside the powerless.