Dear Theophilus:: September 2003
Our Immeasureable God
by Betty Lee
"Atembem had known little hope in her life. Her mother abandoned Atembem and her brother. Atembem has never known her father. Her grandmother was impoverished, could no longer care for Atembem, her brother, and cousin. Her mother even named her "she who has little" on the day she was born. The Rafiki Foundation found Atembem and two relatives living in an orphanage in the northern part of Ghana. Atembem, her brother, and cousin came home to the Rafiki Children's Center in Accra, Ghana. Her grandmother, overjoyed at this opportunity, changed her granddaughter's name. "Atembem" became "Atarebono," which means, "I have much or everything."
This summer, the Lord allowed Dana and I the opportunity to spend 5 weeks in Ghana, Africa, getting to know Atarebono and 42 other children at the Rafiki Children's Center. The center is there with the vision to turn helpless, orphaned children into godly contributors for the world. We had the privilege to be a part of that work by living at the center with the children and being with the kids from the time they got up until they went to bed. Whew! I wanted to share with you in a nutshell how the events unfolded for Dana and I to be able to go on this missions trip. It is an amazing testimony of God's goodness and it was only through His miraculous hand that this trip was made possible.
In just 12 days, we were able to see God work in ways that only He could and show us without a doubt that He wanted us in Africa. We were overjoyed and in awe to see God unfold His plan so clearly. Ephesians 3:20 took on a whole new meaning and became even more real to me. "…(He) is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," so that He could receive all the glory and honor.
From the very first day that we arrived at the orphanage, the children called us "Auntie" and for the next 5 weeks, Dana and I fondly referred to them as "our children." I quickly fell in love with each of them. Like Atarebono, all the children came to the orphanage with so little, but I was able to see firsthand how God had used Rafiki to transform their lives. Each of the children now had hope and joy for their future. They still have so little compared to the luxuries of our American lifestyles, but I realized that they have true joy that does not come from temporal things and they have so much more to give than the children who have much. The children know how to be thankful and acknowledge that everything they have comes directly from God. I realized how much I take for granted and so often complain about what I don't have instead of continually thanking God for His abundant blessings. This was one of the many lessons that I learned from the children.
As we spent our days playing with the children, sharing meals, reading books, tutoring the older children, singing, going fishing, making arts and crafts, and more, the Lord used these times to again remind me that it is only Christ and His amazing love who can bring people together and form a bond the way that He did. It has been a month since I've returned, but their beautiful faces and warm smiles still remain very vivid in my mind. I think about them often and miss hearing the children say, "Auntie Betty! See me, see me!" when they wanted my attention. But how wonderful to know that one day we will all be reunited again in a heavenly home to spend eternity with our Father. I thank God for the countless ways He revealed Himself to me throughout this missions experience and for showing me how much I do have in Jesus Christ. He is all I need!
