Dancing. Laughter. Drum Beating. Swahili songs of worship. All at once the entire Jakazi IDP camp, 840 people, celebrated God's outrageous love with all their might. Why? After tribal wars destroyed their families these survivors banned together to make a new home, and today marked the one year anniversary of living on this new land.

These people were a riddle. They had nothing, but were filled with joy. Experience had showed them how crewel life can be, yet their lives were filled with hope. As we picked up hammers and nails we joined the Jakazi residents in building new homes for those who had spent the year sleeping on the ground in outdated tents.

As we worked their stories of faith filled our ears. "God has lifted us from the dust," one woman proclaimed. She was right. This year they had watched as God provided food and water for the entire community even without a single person being able to work in the local ostracizing town. Today, on their one year anniversary, God made it possible for the community to obtain the supplies necessary to build the last 52 homes needed.

Jakazi is a nothing short of a modern day Israel. God was with them when their lives were ripped from them, and he leading the charge to bring about a new life. The small woman was right when she proclaimed that God has lifted them from the dust. "He has put his dwelling place among them, he is walking with them, and he is their God who has broken the bars of their yoke and enabled them to walk with heads held high (Lev. 26:11 paraphrase).

Today was a day of celebration. It was a day of worship.