Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Joy, Joy, Joy








Rev. Kimberly Burke
I am once again honored to feature a guest post by  Rev. Kimberly Burke, Associate Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Boerne, Texas. Rev. Burke is a recent honors graduate of  Southern Methodist University/Perkins School of Theology, where she received her Masters Degree. This post is Part 2 of her impressions of her experience as a missionary to Uganda, participating with the Tree of Life Ministries.  Click here to read Part 1 of this four part series. Part 3 is here.


I was overwhelmed the day of my first visit with the women’s ministry.  I was greeted with singing and dancing, clapping and praising God.  I had never experienced such raw joy, such unabashed gratitude.  I began thinking these women had no problems.  So in an attempt to get to know them, actually in an attempt to get over my nervousness of not knowing how to express such joy, I asked if they had prayer requests.  It now seems like such a typical Methodist thing to do.  But in the very back of the room a hand shot up and a beautiful glowing woman stood up and said please pray that I might be empowered to spread the gospel and the wisdom to do so.  In that moment God’s words came flowing back to me…there are women there who want to spread the gospel.  I was so thankful that perhaps I did have a reason for being here at this time and at this place and with tears streaming down my face I asked her to come forward and all 26 women gathered around. Those who could reach her laid hands on her and everyone another gathered in a grand spirit filled circle.  I prayed with a power that was not my own, for God to anoint and consecrate this woman to service, to give her courage and wisdom, guidance and authority and the tears began to stream down her face as this white woman from the other planet with no real power other than to say the words she had longed to hear by the power of the Holy Spirit, flowed over her.  And one by one their hands waved in the air to be prayed over and I realized in the midst of all of the joy I had just witnessed there was such suffering as I had never witnessed in one place.  Women who had babies die in their arms, husbands addicted to alcohol (demons they called them), women who had lost husbands, one woman whose Muslim family had abandoned her because she was a born again Christian.  Yet 17 women came forward to profess their yearning to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and to be anointed. To go forth on bare feet, down dirt roads, to places where the gospel has never been heard, facing danger of persecution and isolation.  After confessing all of these horrible tragedies, many of which I realized could be cured by simple, ordinary things like clean water, antibiotics…simple ordinary things.  These women yet again leaped to their feet to praise God! To sing praises, to dance and to laugh together.  Their worries were seemingly carried away like a wisp of smoke from the very real conclusion that in the midst of it all God was there. They laid their burdens down and refused to pick them back up for tomorrow there would be more.  This moment was fresh with joy.


I wonder if you have ever experienced this kind of joy. What was the catalyst?  Can you imagine how perspectives could be changed if we actively looked for reasons to be joyful? 


(Go here to read Part 3.....) 




Linking to Jen at Finding Heaven Today

11 comments:

  1. I am amazed at stories like this. They warm my heart with the joy that if there is hope and deliverance for these people in the direst of predicaments, there is hope for me

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  2. Amen, David. We in the West are so spoiled and take big things for granted and think nothing about it. Stories like these remind me of how blessed we truly are.
    Blessings to you,

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  3. I am always struck by often lay my "burderns down," give them to God...only to pick them back up again.

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  4. Let me say that again...I am amazed at how often I lay my burdens down only to pick them right back up again...and waller around in them. Not very joyful...P.S. It's amazing what can happen when you type with your glasses on...I'm just sayin.

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  5. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I found that hope is often most visible in those who find joy in the little things. These women certainly demonstrate hope!

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  6. The pictures touched our hearts! We would like to contribute to the Tree of Life Ministry and the beautiful people there with a possible project of sending "Solar-powered Lamps and Chargers" which can be acquired for as little as $6.00 according to the research we have been doing.

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  7. How gracious! The solar-powered lamps and chargers are a wonderful, creative idea. I would have never in a million years thought of something that smart! I will have Rev. Burke to contact you about this wonderful idea. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.

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  8. Roberta, what a gracious gift!!! I have another story about darkness in Uganda. I have never experienced darkness like that, the kind that can be felt. This would be greatly appreciated especially in our clinics and in the rural areas where there is absolutely no light. I would love to get in touch with you. Perhaps through our website www.utolm.com. Blessings!

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  9. Roberta, Thank you for the wonderful offer! The website is actually at www.utolm.org. Or you can email us directly at tolministry@gmail.com Blessings!! Jeanne Clark

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  10. awesome. the brave souls who have lived hardship are linked arms with our Lord as Savior in a battle to make the world a better place. Hallelujah.

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  11. Profound, Cricket. Simply, profound. Thank you for stopping by.

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