Claire's Blog

this wednesday i shared about my experiences from the orphanage at the wesley foundation.  i didn't really expect to be that emotional about it.  i've heard about the girls experiences first hand, and i didn't get upset then, but i barely made it through my talk at the wesley, and i even skipped a part.  i think i just tried to tell myself that i shouldn't get upset, and maybe sometimes you just need to get upset and let it out.  i feel angry sometimes to think about what the church, what our country, and what our world are not doing to help, or are even hurting.  weapons used in the congo to kill women and children come from many places, including america, and industries from many places including america take resources from country, and that just breaks my heart.  it was so reassuring yesterday that other people felt as passionate as i am about fighting injustice and learning to love in a way that is willing to sacrifice.  at the same time, i feel like i shared too much, like i let myself be very vulnerable, and thinking about thins that i hadn't let myself think about, i'm just overwhelmed all over again.  i had a hard time singing songs about freedom tonight at our prayer service.  the girls in congo would always sing a song about how there is freedom in jesus, and i believe that there is, but that isn't enough.  colonization was such a horrible thing, and that song that they sing in french frustrates me.  the church has used the "freedom in Jesus" to keep people from wanting more freedom in life.  congo still isn't free.  people from every corner of the world are exploiting it, and so many other countries.  i'm learning more about this oppression in my french class, and it is just shameful to humanity.   so please bear with me.