He can flip a discouraging word on it's head.

So, I get everyone's opinion on "Africa", on the food, on the scenery, swindling, politics, people, witch craft, sickness, etc. I have nothing to compare it to except for the birth of our sweet Congolese children in my heart, and child sponsorship programs and fundraising for orphanages, basically as close as you can get without your hands in it; so usually I just take it and log it. But I heard something from a new friend the other day that I had to do more than just log. 

On the same day as I heard the precious words I have not yet identified to you... hours before someone had told me about the dishonesty of the people in Africa; this hurt me personally, as my children are in fact African and not every persons mistake accounts for the whole. I would hate to be judged for Charles Manson's choices and lumped into that category just being an American. 
The advice given for our trip was, "don't trust anyone, don't touch anyone, keep to yourself...". And I totally can understand coming from the perspective of not having a good experience, but it couldn't sit right with my heart. (and no hard feelings to people who have said this, it is not uncommon to be told, I assure you)
Not that I want to or plan to go out and hug everyone and let strangers hold my passport while I go pop a squat... but really sometimes, this kind of advice... is what I envision you are... imagining me doing... does that make sense? I am aware we need to be cautious in an area I am not familiar with (we do live only but 4 hours from the human trafficking hub of America mind you)Also, you are looking at a paranoid mother of 4 babies at home, my soul purpose is to keep them alive in this season of  learning to walk, climb, jump, throw things, plug things, bath things, and three out of four of them do it at the SAME time... (I've been told Africa might be a vacation for me ha!) however, I am not immune to danger...

 I am not saying "Do not give this kind of advice" to people (because sometimes it is absolutely the right kind of advice, like in a prison yard, joke.), but I do imagine when those who teach Christ without love are said to sound like a clanging symbol (1COR13:1), that also advice without sincerity or love also sounds this way. And I am sure I am guilty of this too more times that I would like to admit!

Now... hear the advice that spoke straight to my heart.  Few hours after feeling heart broken, this was spoken: 

"You are going to meet people who have no one, experienced death of their children or spouses, sickness; starving, sleeping on the ground, abused and left to die... Touch them. Hold them. Pray for them. You might be the only one who dares to reach out and remind them they are alive and human." 

When I think of how Jesus would minister to my heart or to his people, this is it. God is so faithful to restore our hearts and lead us to the rock that is bigger than ourselves. HALLELUJAH !! 

Matthew 25:40

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’