Bringing in the Sheaves: Martha's Melody
“I will not leave you as orphans...”The last week has bonded us together. We have shared much laughter, many tears, and the joy of serving the Lord, no matter what, no matter where. We have coped with hours of frustration, days of delays, and time on our hands. We have spent a great deal of that time in the car, traveling to and from places hard to visualize, encouraged by the road signs which became our “SIGNS”.
“God’s Time is Best Motors and Carburetors”
To pass the time, we have praised. Eight Baptists in a car can come up with a lot of hymns! Martha, our resident wise one, even confessed to playing the piano for the church in a crunch. However, she was limited to those written in the key of C (no sharps no flats). We got a good laugh on that one because there were only about three standards penned in the simple key of C.
As we belted out the classics: Old Rugged Cross, He Lives, Victory in Jesus, Onward Christian Soldiers, somewhere in the back (the names changed to protect the innocent – but God knows who they are) the comment came “can’t you sing something that’s at least from the 20th century!?” To which Martha replied “but we were just about to get to Bringing in the Sheaves, that’s one I can play on the piano.”
A huge roar of laughter erupted and when the chuckles died down, we started with the more modern “This is the Day.” We grew quiet as the sights and sounds, smells and uniqueness that is Africa, closed in around us. The sign on the taxi ahead read “Persevere – To God Be the Glory.”Our final day of distribution was to four orphanages. Each one I had visited in 2004. The children had grown feet, not inches since that time and were eager to hear more stories, see new “tricks”.
Once the program ended, the gifts handed out, we had time to enjoy the children. We watched as they opened with great anticipation their gift box – see their eyes light up with seeing familiar items like flashlights and of course candy! We were ready with a demonstration when they pulled out and Etch-a-Sketch or jigsaw puzzle.
They proudly donned their new sunglasses, ski hats, knit scarves and gloves – and held up cars, trucks and dolls with a big toothy grins.
At one of our last stops the children asked if they could sing a song for us. “Of course” we said as we took out our cameras and turned on the video.
“Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness… we shall come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves…”
Perhaps it has been explained to these children about sowing and reaping for the Kingdom. They may actually know what “sheaves” are. But when they began the chorus, it was clear – God’s favor and delight was upon us.
And for Martha, through her tears of joy, hearing one of the only hymns she could play on the piano from orphans in Ghana, she saw a small portion of her very own sheaves.
Yes, we left rejoicing!
