I was eating an orange outside in Mozambique, while two little girls were playing around me and I felt like I should give them some. I handed one little girl a piece and she immediately walked over to her friend and motioned for me to give her a piece, because if she got a piece and her friend didn’t that just wouldn’t be fair. This little girl who has nothing to call her own, and who probably doesn’t get fed well, made sure that before she enjoyed her orange, her friend had some too.
I’ve learned a lot of things while in Africa- I’ve seen and experienced so much already, but I think the thing I’ll miss the most is the community, and the true meaning of living in community.
Acts 3 talks about the fellowship of believers. “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them. ” Acts 3:32-34b
This is true community- a place where we can share all we have, so not one of us is in need. I’ve seen kids here give more than people at home, sharing their only plate of food for the day with others. What right do we have to call anything our own, when all of it was given to us by God? Why does such a wealthy nation have such difficulty living in a unified community?
