After the diplomas were handed out at the LDP graduation ceremony a couple days ago, Wess and two other Compassion leaders washed the feet of three of the graduates. It was the final lesson taught: leaders must humbly serve. Wess was to wash the feet of a male student and a female leader was to wash the feet of a female graduate but at the last second Wess knelt instead before the young lady and washed her feet. No one knew why he made this change in the plan until yesterday.
Yesterday we went to church with the LDP graduates and then joined them for lunch and a few hours of “fun time.” At the end of our afternoon together the Ethiopian Compassion staff asked us to make a large circle, as if we were gathered around a camp fire. One by one we sat in the center and told our story. And answered questions from those in the circle.
When it came Wess’ turn he told us his story and then he told us why he washed a woman’s feet at the graduation ceremony, and why Compassion came to Ethiopia.
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Nancy Tyler says:
I’m awash in tears after that.
And I’m thinking about how you’re going to come back from this heart-shredding experience, right into the fray of the Thanksgiving and Christmas season here in the US. I’m praying for you and Brian as you make your way, changed, back to an unchanged America.
emma says:
Wow. These are the kind of stories that remind me that every little thing I can possibly do is worthwhile and beneficial. Also praying for you guys as you return to a consumeristic western world again.
angie says:
Shaun,
As I’ve read aobut your journey, each post has overwhelmed and touched me.
How truely blessed you to have made this trip and blessed we are to share a small part in it by being here.
Thank for your willingness to go and to share.
I too will pray for your ‘re-entry’, sometimes that is the most painful part of the journey.
God’s blessing to you all as you travel home,
Angie
MamasBoy says:
Wow. An amazing story. Folks like you and Brant have really inspired me the past couple years. Last Sunday, I held the second annual sponsorship drive at my insignificantly small church and got 11 more kids and elderly folks sponsored. Unfortunately, I can’t sing/compose worth a hoot and engineering isn’t a forum for sharing with lots of folks about sponsorship for kids/elderly, but it’s amazing what God can do with peons like me who try to do “the Shaun thing” (TM) on a smaller scale.
MB
emma says:
MamasBoy… reading your comment I’m reminded of a phrase a friend of mine used once, that I think is appropriate for you… ‘insignificant significance’… maybe you think what you’re doing is a small thing, and maybe it looks small compared to guys like Shaun, but what you are doing is SO, SO, SIGNIFICANT to every single kid you manage to find a sponsor for… never forget that!
Biblefanmaryann says:
I agree with Emma on that.^^
If everyone did their own insignificant part, serving the Lord, the world would be significantly changed!
Kat says:
wow…that’s really all I can say right now.