The first two days of our Mission trip we taught at Mutenkuar Baptist Church. This is David Olonopa's church. While we waited for enough women to arrive so that we could teach, a group of children came up and surrounded us. They were giggling and laughing and jumping up and down. I decided that I would take some pictures of them. As I was watching these children, the thought came to my mind, "This is why you come." Jesus loves them so much. Remember the words to the children's hymn, "Jesus Loves the Little Children"?
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow black and white
They are precious in His Sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
I know they truly are precious to Him. The Bible gives us an account of what Jesus thought about children and the priority He placed on them.
" People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the
disciples saw this, they rebuked them. [16] But Jesus called the children to him
and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the
kingdom of God belongs to such as these. [17] I tell you the truth, anyone who
will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Luke 18:15-17
Jesus loved children and He still does. Think about how these children must have been drawn to Him also. For them to want to go to Jesus in the first place. Jesus wants us to come to Him like little children too. To love Him with a heart full of love.
The children I saw at Mutenkuar Church those two days were soooo happy. They are so full of life and joy, and it is contagious! They love the smallest things... stickers...balloons... pipe cleaner crowns... Since they don't have many possessions, these things are precious to them. You will see them wear the pipe cleaner crown the next day. They sing and dance with such exuberance.
Some of the children were rubbing my arms. I guess the novelty of a white person (Muzungu). It is the first time that some of them have seen a white person.
One of the things that I loved was they saw that Betsy had on lipstick and they took their little finger and rubbed her lips and then rubbed it on their lips. That was so precious and they are so precious. They just make me smile...
I bet they make Jesus smile too.