This was the question that I was asked by a young boy from a nearby village as I was returning from the kitchen with my breakfast of pao’ (a bread roll) and cha’ (tea). Thankfully, this time I was able to answer “Yes, you are Nelson”. 

Here in Pemba there are so many new lives that I am a part of. One of my constant prayers is that God would help me learn not only names and faces but deeper identities.This is quite a request with the close to 200 children at this center and the tia’s and tio’s (aunties and uncles) who take care of them. There are also many of the local people employed and serving in ministry, education, construction, transportation, kitchen help and cleaning and children who come in from the villages. It is one thing for me to greet them with a smile and a cheerful bom dia (good morning) but often times they want to know … Do you remember me?… Do you know my name?

This morning Nelson’s question stuck with me. It made me think of how we were all created with a desire to know and be known, ultimately by our Creator, but also by one another. We were fashioned to dwell in relationships. This is what makes the Christian faith so unique. Jesus came to earth with the express purpose of death by the cross, so that He being perfect, could pay the price for the judgement against us. This was the only way that we could regain the intimate relationship with Himself, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit that was there before sin entered the picture in the garden. 

I think of the times I have come before my heavenly Father needing to know … “Do you remember me?”,  ”Do you know my name?”, “Do you know what I am going through?”. I am so thankful for the affirming warmth of His presence and the many clear answers in His Word to settle that question forever. Psalm 139 is a favorite. There is also Matthew 10:30 or Luke 12:7 which tell how the hairs of our head are numbered! Isaiah 49:15-16a reads “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands”. This was the inspiration for the drawing on my ”Updates” page.One last reference I will give is something that stood out to me years ago. The Israelites were entrenched in slavery to the Egyptians and God sent Moses. Exodus 4:31 reads “And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped”. There is something so very comforting and healing in the comprehension of being known and loved. As I continue to grow in the depth of this knowledge I will persist in praying that I may also be an example of it. When I am asked “Do you remember me?”, I want to be able to answer with a strong “yes”, allowing another to feel known and treasured.

     It is so awesome to be here. I wish I could share all the little joys. I wish there was a way to better describe my life here. Obviously there are some great challenges but I am not talking about those or even what I “do” like the teaching. It is about who I am here… just being here knowing that my ultimate goal is to be Jesus to these people. So … as I walk I am constantly smiling at people and greeting them. I scoop up children and give them big hugs, the bigger children still get big hugs. There are some special needs children who my heart is drawn to just a little extra. One is named Ramadane but they call him Judah instead. When I took his photo the other day and showed it to him he laughed such a big laugh! The thought that came was “Joyful Judah”. I decided this would be my new name for him. He is 13 years old but he does not talk, only makes little noises. Today I came across him looking so down and went up hugged on him and as I was hugging him - prayed over him and by the end of the prayer he was laughing!

  I also have been able to take photos of the children with their art projects. They love this. While doing this the other day I zoomed in on the face of Catarina, one of the girls. When I showed it to her she got so quiet and just stared intently at it. To me it seemed that she was a little surprised at what I captured. She is absolutely beautiful and the view I got is so sweet. When I told her how much I liked it she very humbly said something to the effect of “me too”. I don’t know if I am properly getting across her reaction. It was like she was in awe of her own image but not at all in a prideful way. My thought is this - how many of us if we were shown our “photo” taken by God would be in awe and somewhat surprised at how beautiful we are? I am not at all promoting a “soulish” pride but a proper understanding that we are His children, His creation. He finds us amazingly beautiful to gaze at and He loves us so. How many of us need to stand before the mirror of God’s Word to see through all the lies and improper identities that we have accepted to see our proper identity in Him. I think we like Catarina will be temporarily silenced and in awe. How wonderful it is to be a child of the Most High God … but we cannot stop there. We must learn to also see others the way God sees them.

This seems like a perfect place to share a poem that God gave me years ago that deals with just this.

Heavenly Eyes

Oh please do not look at me

With your earthly eyes

Try and see me as the one

Who has his throne on high

For where you may see the surface

He sees what’s within

He still calls me his beloved

Although He knows my sin

He understands my weakness

My failures and my shame

He has watched me take my every step

He knows which left me lame

So you may see me as I am

this day this hour this place

But He sees me as I can be

through His love, His power, His grace

Copyright Laura Eubanks 2-24-2002

Hi all,

Greetings from Mozambique via Detroit, Amsterdam and Johannesburg! I am home I arrived yesterday (Saturday) around 2:00pm after almost 48 hours of flights and layovers. It all went really well. I had such favor/answer to prayer in regard to my luggage, which consisted mostly of art supplies.

1) In St Louis they did not choose to inspect either the checked baggage or my carry on. This was great because it was so tightly packed it would have been hard to get back in.

2) My checked luggage (2 large plastic bins) were checked all the way through from St Louis to my new home - this has never happened before!

3) They both made it!

4) Although I was stopped, questioned and luggage inspected here in at Customs I was allowed to go through without them trying to get $ from me. No haggling no nothing. This was an act of God!!! You have no idea how not normal that was. When I got into the car of the person who picked me up she asked if they gave me a hard time and I explained what they did. She told me that yesterday a group of visitors who arrived had huge problems with the customs officials and had to pay a large bribe. Wow … thank you God! Thank many of you for the prayer coverage. 

Another great happening - had a really good conversation for much of the flight between Detroit and Amsterdam with a man from Germany. He had such a tender heart. He works in IT and looks at life through his background and education in science but admits that so much of the greatest science/scientists come to a place where there are things that cannot be explained. He shared that because of something that happened when his father died 5 years ago he has been searching for answers. He was so open with his wonderings and questions and current views as well as open to the perspective I was able to give him of Jesus, His love for him and the kingdom of God. Like I said earlier he had such a tender heart. His name is Martin if anyone would like to pray for him. (I know that before I left at least one person specifically prayed about my seat assignments and the people I would sit next to and if there would be anybody God would have me talk to!) 

Life snapshots:

Arriving at the center, seeing and getting hugs from so many of the children I have gotten close to. My touch quota is once again met and exceeded!

My first meal of beans and rice (then had it again 2 times today)

The brilliance and quantity of the stars in the sky last night. It made me think of Abram at that point childless being told by God to “count the stars if indeed you can count them” then he said to him “so shall your offspring be”. What a great reminder of God’s faithfulness in those situations he has spoken to us that seem utterly impossible. (like me being here)

Having my character and physical strength stretched to keep a child wrapped within my arms when putting the child down would help me feel better but I know holding them helps them to feel better.

African church service - worship pretty equal to high intensity aerobics, prayer time on my knees and face on the grass mats.

The sweet ringing in my ears of the words Mana (mama) Laura, Mana Laura with a Portuguese roll.

Getting moved into my room just over 9′ square, picturing where I can put the easel I plan to make from bamboo.

Back to no running water and sleeping under a mosquito net

Took three of the children to swim and get a soda

My first child coming to ask me to dress his wound

A heart full of gratitude and worship!

God bless you all!

Laura