Perspective

Per-spec-tive:
1) the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance
2) the appearance to the eye of objects in respect to their relative distance or positions

Today, we all gained perspective.

David Mensah’s devotional today was based on John 21:1-6. Jesus had been crucified, rose from the dead and had appeared to the disciples a couple of times, and they were found to be in the ‘in-between time’. Feeling abandoned, confused and lacking direction. Unable to sit doing nothing, Peter and two others, decided to go fishing, back to what they had done before they met Jesus.

Casting their nets on left side (the easiest and familiar side when right-handed), they caught nothing after a full night fishing. Jesus, appeared again. Standing on the shore, He spoke to them compassionately, like a father would, as He was The Master now. All powerful. All knowing. And he instructed them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat where their nets were filled with more than they could pull in.

David compared this to how he and all who loved and worked with Noah felt since his passing yesterday. Finding themselves grieving and not sure what to do next, yet, we were soon to show up. Assured that God’s watchful eye is still on them and they are not abandoned. Despite the sorrow, our arrival yesterday afternoon has brought plenty of joy back.

Our devotional time was complete with prayer and singing. We followed David and Brenda outside the gate and into Noah’s home in Carpenter. With glistening eyes, we greeted those there in mourning and Craig prayed a wonderful prayer of comfort and encouragement for the legacy that Noah left for his family and his community. Perspective.

Aaron had a chance to deliver and install a HUGE indestructible vice that his father Ron donated for Jackie. A beast of a unit, it was brought here in pieces… one of which gave cause for concern as Paul had to account for it being in his checked luggage at the airport. Incredibly, Jackie let Aaron know that only 2 ½ days before our arrival, his (much smaller) vice had broken! What perfect timing, and perspective.

Gathering our things back at the NEA gazebo, we embarked on a tour of the hospital site. As David and Brenda led the way once again, the most common expression was of amazement. The intuitive planning and design, the progress thus far, and the overall size of it all! Perspective.

The teaching team then took a tour of the two schools where they will be teaching. Starting at the bright, beautiful new school, EPS, (Empowerment Preparatory School), we visited every class, met the teachers and students dressed in blue plaid school uniforms. We thoroughly enjoyed watching a Grade 1 student confidently lead his class in the alphabet and counting to 30, completely unphased by a dozen of us walking into the classroom. From there we visited Carpenter’s public school and the headmaster, Christopher, introduced us to each teacher and the classes we would be working with there. Time worth taking so that we could better prepare for these coming days. Perspective.

Passing by Esther’s sewing shop, Risi, a sewer herself, noted the non-electric, ‘old fashioned’ hand driven sewing machines the students were using to sew the EPS school uniforms. Later that afternoon, Risi returned to the shop to have her bag repaired and was convinced that when she gets home, she will need to try her grandmother’s sewing machine that is much the same. Perspective.

After enlisting the ‘build team’ to help the ‘teaching team’ in a giant felt puzzle team-building exercise, we embarked on NEA Tour, Part 2. Ostriches, emus, rabbits, chickens and pigs were interesting. We heard about the miracle of the well that Craig and Isaac’s church (Life Church) had funded years ago. How it provides all the water needed for the fishery and the other buildings on the compound. Seeing the enlargement and refurbishing of the mushroom farming facility and hearing about Soale ‘cracking the code’ on the best mushroom cultures, Brad was impressed (and even more convinced there was good reason he didn’t like mushrooms). Perspective.

Stopping at the build site for the dormitory, Soale gathered the plans and they were reviewed. We met Thomas the builder. The immensity of the project had everyone considering where they could best contribute to the build. With Bruce and his drone taking overhead video and photos that were reviewed later in the evening, we gained a better perspective.

Finishing the evening was the opportunity for everyone to choose from lovely fabrics that Soale and Esther brought. Some team members chose easily, and others wondered just how the brightly patterned fabrics would translate into clothing. Fabrics, that until the they are sewn into garments, lack some perspective.

It has been a very big day, yet tomorrow, the real work begins. Perspective.