Uncle Aaron is one of the wonderful student interns we had this year with His Little Feet. Aaron worked as our main sound technician, loaded and unloaded our equipment, cared for the boys in host homes, and served in any other way that was asked of him. Our desire is for the Lord to speak to you through what Aaron shares below about a meaningful time in our tour.
“Blessed be the Name of the Lord...Blessed be Your Name”
This song brings to remembrance many experiences in the last year of my life, but two of the most significant moments have been while on tour with these 15 incredible children.
The first time I heard the children worshiping, apart from concert time and time spent in the Church at Ellerslie, was early in the tour back on campus at Ellerslie. I walked into the two-story dorm the kids call home here in the US and I immediately heard a sweet and powerful sound coming from what we call the “book nook” upstairs: children singing at the top of their lungs. At first, I didn't know why they were singing, or even what they were singing in Creole, but after a few minutes of listening I heard a song in English that I recognized... “Blessed Be Your Name”.
Now, I've heard this song hundreds of times in many different situations, but to me this time was completely different from any other instance. This time the singing was coupled with tears from 15 young Haitian hearts crying out to the God who rescued them from tough times in their past and has now given them the opportunity to be a voice for millions across the world. Curiosity led me up the stairs in the dorm to witness this moving time of worship firsthand. I found that the worship time was officially led by Francia (one of our incredible chaperones from Haiti) but was also contributed to by all, even our youngest little boy, Johnson. I looked around the book nook at these 15 kids all singing at the top of their lungs- some with tears streaming down their cheeks and some with their faces on the ground in reverence and passionate love to our Jesus. I had never seen anything like it before in my life. It was then that the song “Blessed Be Your Name” took on a deeper, more personal meaning for me.
As I listened to the words they sang I was moved beyond words. To hear these children (many of whom have lost very dear loved ones at a very young age) singing: “...You give and take away...my heart will choose to say...Lord, blessed be your name...” rocked me to tears. It was truly a life-changing moment for me...and those moments just kept on coming!
Another moment that really sticks out to me on tour is when we were in South Carolina in late March and we received the news that one of the Mamis who these kids have known and grown up with at the children's home in Haiti had suddenly passed away. We had decided to tell the kids after a Saturday evening concert, right before one of our most hectic Sundays on tour- the Sunday when Mike and Christa were flying out to Ethiopia to select the kids for next year's choir.
As you could imagine, the kids were incredibly heartbroken to hear the news of their dear Mami and friend passing away and that night was filled with many tears and memories. The next day we had 3 morning concerts at one location and one evening concert at another church. I don't think any of us as staff knew what to expect from the kids. Would they be able to smile and be joyful on stage? Or would they break down at every thought of this dear one they missed so much? Would they be comforted by the thought of their Mami basking in the glory of our great Lord? All we could do was be there for the kids and pray that Jesus would receive glory for all that was to come of this.
We continued with the concerts and the kids did quite well with the morning performances. The Lord had sure performed a great work! But what impacted me most from that Sunday was the evening concert. The day was long and tiring and was wearing on us all and with Mike and Christa gone, the responsibilities had been doubled for many of us. But oh, our God's grace is so sufficient and his love is so good!
That night I watched as the Holy Spirit came upon the kids in power at that small church in South Carolina. I watched as their faces were illuminated by the love of our Great King. I stood back in tears and in awe when the kids all started that powerful song once more: “Blessed be the name of the Lord...you give and take away...my heart will choose to say...Lord, blessed be your name!” Oh what unexplainable joy and emotion filled the room when those words rang out! It seemed as if all of the children had just touched the hem of Jesus' garment and had been relieved from the pain and aching they were experiencing and were filled with the life-changing joy of knowing that Jesus had saved them from a lifetime of hurt and confusion. I was struck speechless, as were nearly all in the room as we watched the glory of the Lord descend upon the faces of 15 children worshiping their Savior.
After the concert nearly every person there came up to me and said that they had never seen such a powerful presentation and display of Christ's heart for his children, and all I could say was: “Neither had I!” The Lord had proven himself faithful and true once again, even in the hardest of circumstances! As I began to tear down the set, James walked back into the room having come from greeting many of those who had witnessed the concert, and we both just stared at each other with tears in our eyes-speechless after having experiencing what took place that night. The only words we could say were “Oh Jesus! You are so good!”
How can we keep from blessing your name, oh Jesus?
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name!
- Matt Redman
Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!
-Psalm 72:19
...The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
-Job 1:21b
Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
-Matthew 18:3
