Excessive Happiness!

I was woken this morning to the sound of crys, initially i thought it was the Mullah again but recognised familiar phrases, "Release him!" and "How long?" "How long?", (a plea as often used in the Psalms) it was the prayer meeting downstairs, which finished with a beautiful gentle chorus of Hal-le-lu-jah, Hal-le-lu-jah, i listened for about and hour and was in awe. It had started with a real plea, crying out, begging God, they were persistant, wrestling with him till he answered, (a real Jacob moment) it reminded me of the song "Hallelujah" sung by Leonard Cohen & Rufus Waintwright, amongst others, 'It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah' they were so honest in their pleading with God, i realise how often when i am upset or angry with God I don't cry to him, i cry against him, I give God a watered-down version of how i feel or run away all together, I was taught a valuable lesson by listening this morning. I also compared it to my feeble 15-minute rushed prayer in the mornings, and even then my mind so easily wanders, i am hoping to take away some of their fervour, i need it and here it is in abundance!.
We went to the airport to confirm our tickets, we were supposed to do it 72 hours in advance but forgot, thankfully Victoria reminded us and they had not sold our tickets on to anyone else! We set off to the conference and again began with lively singing and dancing, i am so going to miss that, they have no inhibitions about dancing and singing to their God, they do not care who is looking or what they look like, it is just them and God, i have found it such a joy.
Martin gave his talk on Spiritual Warfare, i have heard since how much it was enjoyed and how they have really valued this time of learning. Us girls went to Dondon taking sweets, toys and smellies, which they loved, we had a fun time, it is not important that we did not speak their language, a smile, a dance, playing catch, a kiss, a hug need no explaination.
I held a baby named Maria, she not only has Aids but has also contracted Malaria, i held her and sang, "Maria, I just met a girl named Maria", she grabbed my finger tight and stared deep into my eyes, each time i stopped walking she cried, she knew she was being held and loved, i walked for an hour with her till the bus came for us to go. We did no painting, nothing practical but that hour i will always remember, i truly believe in the short length of time she may have left, that was very precious time for her too.
We went back to the conference just in time for more celebrations, singing and dancing, they just don't keep still, i envisaged heaven with every tribe and tounge dancing and celebrating, us English will look so stiff in comparison! you should have seen Martin! he looked like he had been to Salsa lessons, he picked up the rythmn and was off! (I know u won't believe me Jackie but he sure could dance today!) Itwas a real celebration, I was reminded of the film Patch Adams, a true story of a doctor, who was unorthadox but treated the patient as well as the disease and used humour as a very real medicine. They tried to throw him out of medical school, one accusation they made against him was that he practised 'excessive happiness' the board overturned it and suggested the Dean himself should try some of this 'excessive happiness', Patch Adams went on to open many hospitals for people who could not normally afford medical treatment, to me the family of God here practice 'excessive happiness' it is uplifting, infectious and a real joy to be part of. We finished by having the Lords supper, at least that was what the translator had led us to believe, the whole room were given a bottle of fanta each and a huge sticky bun! - we each ate ours, which was a bit of a struggle, i had experienced many different Lords suppers - but this was a feast! Apparently it was not Eucharist just a get together of Gods family, it had got lost in translation!
We have just all been for a coffee and a cake and are off to bed ready for tomorrow. It may not be possible to post now till we get home. Martin has gone to brave the cold shower, very courageous with a cold! Ruth is sitting on the balcony and Anne is in her room after having just sent another text! - no stopping her now, we have all got on wonderfully and it has been a fantastic adventure and journey, i feel i have grown along the way, i hope i have.
We will visit Inhamizua tomorrow, we have sweets and medals for all the boys, we ran lots of races the other day and had sides racing each other for prizes, tomorrow Martin will tell them how they are all winners because they are all on Gods side and they will all have a medal to remember how loved they are.
Yesterday i felt that i would be leaving with a sense that i could have done more, things i now recognise would have been good to bring, bracelets for the girls, little perfumes, things that make each one of us feel special, and the boys too of course - it felt a bit like the end of Schindlers List when he realised he could have done more, he could have sold his ring, his car etc... i had the 'if onlys', but God brought to my mind the last line of the film Babe, .........a true re-assurance "That'll do pig, that'll do".