Water, sorrow and joy

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Reflections by Tanzania traveler Judith Anderson


Out of great sorrow comes great joy. 
Out of the great pain at the loss of children in the Idodi school fire came the great joy of water for many. 
We always want to know why bad things happen and God does not give a direct answer if any.

Chake Kuyaa

When Kirsten went to console the mother of one of our scholarship students who had died in the Idodi fire she asked what we could do.   The Bibi (grandmother) asked for two things; a Chapel and Water.  A chapel first to pray in and a closer supply of water needed by all in her village.
 Six years of hard work from the Mahove congregation and Shepherd of the Valley, the Chapel sits beautifully in the center of the village.  It has that same simple beauty you find in small country churches scattered across the USA.

Steps away from the front door of this chapel you find two taps for water reaching out of the square cement base. Oh what joy when the water taps flowed with cold clear water that first day after the dedication!
 As the taps flowed so did our tears.
Our hearts cried in sorrowful remembrance and also in joy for the gifts this water will bring.
 As one who cried, I know how healing both type of tears can be.  When the tears wash down our face God cleanses our hearts pain and also let the joy within flow freely for all to know our joy.
 We were a small group of three from Shepherdsof the Valley, two Bibis and one Mama. We were blessed to see the face of God through our tears in the Masi and HeHe that day.   A sharing of the water of the Spirit and the water that is needed to feed the body.  Alleluia, Amen.

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