Yesterday we left our homestead at 8:00 am to go into town
to help with a retreat for the women who feed the children at the care points,
the day before we had been there and helped to decorate and set up. We had
watched as 4 very full vans unloaded with African woman of all ages some with
small children. All of us were excited to be able to go back and help out
leading them in games and other activities.
However, the van we have been traveling in had some trouble
starting and on our way out of the area we live in it just stopped running.
Being too far to walk back to the house we just waited while our driver called
someone to help. At first all were content to just sit in the van. Soon,
everyone started to get restless. Everyone ended up out of the car at one point
to take funny pictures and just hang out.
Patrice decided to walk down the road a little ways and when
she came back some kids had spotted her and then found all of us. They came
over immediately wanting to play with us and be held. As I was playing with
them I felt God telling me that they needed food, all I had with me was a
sandwich. A few minutes later Patrice said she was going to walk to the little
shop that was around the corner from where we were. So some of us walked there
with the kids and I asked Patrice if she had enough money to buy them some
food. She said yes and that she also felt we should buy them something.
Quickly all of us at
the shop attracted the rest of the family and the 4 children became 7 and a
little one. So we bought them coca-cola, chips, and lollipops, treats that they
would most likely never get. Then we also bought a few groceries and walked
with them back to their house. When we got there the mom and dad were working
out in the field and the oldest went to get them. They came and we talked and
prayed with them and the children. They seemed blessed by the food and our
short visit. The kids were very happy and some followed us back to the van.
When we got back Bheki, our driver, had called the mechanics and they had done
something so the car was running. So we got in the van again and left. We had
been stranded there for about 2 hours.
On the way in to town to the woman’s retreat I thought about
what had just happened. It was obvious we broke down in that spot for a reason
and those children needed some love and attention. We probably won’t ever see
them again yet I know that God used us to show his love and provision for his
people.
It was then I realized that being around so many people who
need so much can get a little bit overwhelming. It’s hard because I want to be
able to help everyone I see, yet that’s just not possible. I’m sure many of you
can relate to how I feel. But I realized again how important one person is and
that if you are making a difference in just one person’s life that is huge. In
this case we were able to help a family. I think that Jesus and his disciples
probably felt similar when they would walk around and so many people would want
his help. Yet he still took time and saw each individually. I hope that
wherever you are you realize how important the people that God has brought into
your life to serve and encourage are. That out of the billions of people God
has in the world he chose you to reach out to that one person. Serve those in
your life with all you have and that is how we can reach our world with the
love of Jesus.
We eventually did make it to the retreat and had a blast
helping to lead the women in activities and watching the babies. I hope that
God will continue to provide opportunities to bless those around us and that
our eyes will be open to them.
