From @mmm_water ... 2019 Well Season: Daily Devotional

September 14 - October 28 is Marion Medical Mission Well Season for 2019. The season will include daily devotionals - one for each day the U.S. volunteers are overseas, sharing the love of Jesus by providing safe, clean, sustainable sources of drinking water to the extreme poor in sub-Saharan Africa. Marion Medical Mission is one of our mission partners at Grace Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas, and we STRONGLY encourage you to read these devotions to learn more about - and pray for! - their mission.

October 19, 2019

SONGS OF JOY
Susie Selock
Volunteer, Illinois

“When morning dawns and evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.”
Psalm 65: 8

When my husband Dan and I told my older brother, Dave, of our plans to go to Africa with Marion Medical Mission in 2016, his response was “Enjoy the songs of Africa.” He and his wife had spent much time in Liberia (Eastern Africa) over the years and knew well these songs.

Growing up, our family sang together often, each night before bedtime, on long road trips and impulsively bursting into song while doing everyday chores. If you went outside, you would hear people singing in their yards. It was a phenomenon of the time and place where I was raised. Singing was and is a wonderful way to express many emotions.

When we arrived in Africa, it was not long before we heard these wonderful songs. At one of the first villages that I visited, a young 10 year old girl sang a song in such a clear perfect way that it pierced my heart. Wilfred, our field officer, translated the words, ”God loves us and wants us to love one another.” This young beautiful girl, singing in a torn white shirt, was singing the message of God to all who would hear.

Throughout the time we were there, our main way to communicate with the villagers was through song and dance. We were greeted and shepherded to the well site with singing. We learned the Chichewa words and the English translations - “Come now come. We are happy at (name of village).Smile now smile. We are happy for the well, we are happy. Smile now smile. Come now come. We are happy for you have brought sweetness. Smile now smile. “

So friends, remember each day to smile now smile and come now come to the wonder of God’s beautiful creation. This is what I learned from the villagers in Malawi.

Application Question: How do we respond each day to God’s abundant goodness?

Prayer: God, thank You for the wonders of Your world. Each day may we remember to sing our praises to You.

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