Roaring laughter

Years ago, when I was just getting my feet wet as a short-term missionary, traveling in and out of Zambia once or twice a year, I begin staying at the home of missionary mentors of mine. Their names are Andy & Eira Patching, and at the time, they ran an organization called Isubilo, which means Hope in Bemba. Isubilo was a community resource center encompassing holistic assistance and love for a community called Chifubu (the community Orchard still works in today0 that desperately needed it. I loved the model and the excellence with which they operated, and I loved the people so much and learned from their rich stores of experience and wisdom, so I would finish my mission trips and send my mission teams home and then spend a few extra tag-on days with the Patching’s — picking their brains and helping at Isubilo.

As I’ve mentioned before, kids and youth ministry has always been a staple of the work Heidi and I have done in the nations, especially in Zambia, and Isubilo also had a large thriving kid’s outreach. On one of my first ever visits to Isubilo, I arrived around lunchtime and a small boy who had his plate already helped me get my plate and asked me to sit with him in very broken English. My Bemba was not so good at the time, so we communicated using mostly gestures. The boy’s name is Charles Chola, and he is still a big part pf our lives, almost 15 years later! When we first moved to Zambia, we actually worked at Isubilo and Charles was constantly by our sides. Isubilo had many doors and many keys, and everything was always locked, but Charles loved being the keeper of the keys. He loved being the one who opened shop and closed it down for the day. And he loved being my bodyguard — even though he’s not half my size! We still giggle, calling him Ba Malonda.

And when we started Orchard in 2018, Charles was one of our original Young Lions. One thing you must know is that Charles is handicapped and has some pretty severe joint issues in his leg…and, the Young Lions, on top of being a discipleship group, is a running team. But that never stopped Charles. He ran with us when he could, and even when he couldn’t, he would be present as our sponsor or a coach. At our gatherings and retreats, especially next to a campfire when music plays, this guy loosens way up and does quite the Michael Jackson impersonation. 

There’s nobody on earth that makes me laugh harder than Charles. He is a joy. In fact, Charles embodies deep joy. I was recently sharing a message with youth here in America and we were in a series about the life of Abraham. 

My week was all about the birth of Isaac, a baby had that been promised to 75-year-old Sarah earlier in Genesis. When Sarah heard the promise, she laughed in a scoffing way, at the very notion of this plan. But, 25 years later, when the promised baby is born, Sarah laughs with joy and says, “all who hear about this will laugh with me because of the miraculous power of God. The baby’s name, Isaac, actually means laughter. 

Reading again, about Isaac, I remembered Nehemiah 8:10. While rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah encouraged his team and exhorted, ‘the joy of the Lord is strength! A strong decision. A powerful choice. A fuel for life. The outlook of the overcomer is joyful. 

I’ve found this to be true: the most overcoming people are the most buoyant. They are the joyful, in spite of every circumstance. They’re like Charles. They don’t let pitfalls, shortcomings, hard starts, of difficulties stop them. They keep showing up. They keep dancing and they keep laughing. 

Charles is one of the great lions of joy in my life. He’s a joy mentor of mine…who would’ve thought that little boy that invited me to sit with him for lunch would become an important close family member who would teach me so much about the healing salve of laughter and the warrior power of joy?

Charles has many challenges in his life. Health challenges, poverty challenges, and the list goes on. But he never talks about those. He never complains. I’ve never heard him throw a pity party. Charles works exceedingly hard. He sharpens his mind and his body. He sings in a choir, of which he is immensely proud. And he laughs and dances with the best of ‘em! Charles is the life of every party, and he magnetically attracts community. Remember, he invited a strange foreigner to sit with him for lunch before we had even met? Laughter…and joy are contagious. That’s because laughter is 30 times more likely to occur in the company of others than when one is alone. Joy is a community building secret too!

No matter where you find yourself today; no matter what the circumstances, there is something to be joyful about, even if you must dig a little. But if you need a prompt, let me remind you that God loves you. He cares for you. Miracles are real. God keeps his promises. And your life is a gift.

That should make you smile.

If you still need an extra daily dose, I’ve included a link of Charles dancing and laughing below. That always gets me going. 

Let’s roar with laughter today.