“Say Yes to Someone”
Two years ago this month Matt and Kelly Erdman took their two daughters Camille and Tabitha and left everything familiar to them, their family, their church which they loved, grocery stores stocked with favorite foods, people who spoke English, a pension plan from work, Mexican food, TV news (well maybe not that so much) and moved to Africa to live their lives among the people of Tanzania, East Africa.
They had heard our stories of abandoned, orphaned, and at risk babies and after asking God to guide their decision, they said yes. It is amazing to me for young families to do this. Michael and I are old, it is not too hard but Matt and Kelly are young, both had promising careers, Kelly as an Occupational Therapist and Matt as an excellent builder. They said yes and gave it all up to come to Tanzania and work with the babies at Neema House Arusha.
(One of my favorite pictures, Camille Erdman, with Rehema’s help feeding one of the Neema babies, left.) I have just finished reading the book “Called for Life” by Kent and Amber Brantly and have to tell you I have not been so captivated by a book in a long time. The gripping story of this young family who, like Matt and Kelly, left everything to come and work with the people of Africa left me in tears one moment and sheer terror for them at other times.
From Physician to Patient, Dr. Kent tells how he struggled first to help people with Ebola and then how he fought to survive Ebola himself. As he worked with so many patients he knew he could not become involved in every life who came to him for help but with a few he was able to say yes as he took on their hurt and hope. We all have lots of pulls on our lives, there are so many people that need help, lots of good work that needs done, lonely people that need someone to listen, and we can’t say yes to everyone, but Dr. Kent says if we will all say yes to someone then everyone will be taken care of. I think that is what Matt and Kelly have done too. They said yes.
Above Matt, Kelly, Bekah and Mama Musa at the monthly staff meeting. Matt does a great job of managing the books and keeping the finances straight. He is out at the land everyday helping with the decisions about the buildings and grounds at the new property. Kelly manages the staff, daily schedules, dealing with Social Welfare and has now taken over the huge job of coordinating Neema volunteers. With all that she manages to home school Camille and Tabitha as well. Bekah as an EMT manages the medical issues of the babies and nannies. Mama Musa is our manager.
I am reminded at this time of year how Jesus said yes too. Could he have said no? Of course, but he didn’t, he said yes. And so he came to a little insignificant town, to a backyard stable that smelled of manure, he came unwanted, unknown, unwelcomed, his family living as refugees barely escaping with their lives, and yet he came to show us how to love those who hate, how to return good for evil, how to not worry ourselves into early graves but to live lives of faith in a big God who loves, who is near to each one of us and who is always good. Thank God He said yes!
We thank God Matt and Kelly did too. Below the Erdmans at one of our sweet adoptions. (Neema House does not take money for adoptions.)
As we work with these little ones at Neema House Arusha, many of them unwanted, thrown out and unwelcomed too, I am touched by how Jesus identifies with them and wants little children near him. I think his big heart is always tilted toward these little abandoned ones. I know yours has been too this year as you have helped us feed and clothe them. Bless You.
Neema babies, Patricia, Zawadi and Jemma, above, dressed for the Christmas celebration.
“If Jesus is not born once in my heart, he can be born a thousand times in Bethlehem and I will still be lost.” Corrie Ten Boon.