Today Leann and I joined Daniel and went to Mathare Area 4A. (On the way to Pangani, we stopped at Java House and Mary bought us all coffee.) He showed us the toilet projects under construction. The toilet building that we saw was really big – three toilets and three showers for women and the same for men. While in the Area, we were accosted by tons of children yelling “Howareyou!” in a sing-song voice. All of them were adorable.
Daniel took us on three home visits/follow ups. We met two ladies in their house and we took our picture with them, much to their chagrin. They now want copies. Next we met with a woman named Christine. She is a CHE member in the community and has helped David get involved there. She lives in a small shanty.
We were sitting there and she was insisting on buying us all soda. She is obligated by her tribe to offer something to guests (or so it was explained). Daniel explained to her that we didn’t need anything. We didn’t want to offend her traditions, but we didn’t want to take anything from an unemployed woman in Mathare. She kept insisting and her niece eventually came in. They exchanged a few words and the niece left with some coins. She came back with one liter of cold Sprite and one liter of cold orange Fanta.
Christine took three nice glasses, washed them, dried them, and set one if front of each of us on her coffee table. She gave thanks, and then poured us each a full glass of orange Fanta. I sipped on mine for a while until most of it was gone and she refilled it. As we finished, I just sat there. So many thoughts rushed through my head: This lady has nothing and offered me something special. She thanked Jesus for the gift she was giving us. She was happy that we visited her.
It felt like I just had me feet washed. With orange Fanta.
I got to pray for her before we left. She is taking care of her three children and her three nieces (their parents died). Pray that God will help her raise her children up in Christ. Pray that God will bless her and her family.
Christine is a precious woman of God...she gave out of her extreme poverty. I am praying for God to bless her richly with many spiritual blessings. Also, it might be cool to show up at her house sometime with some treats and/or drinks for her, for her children, and for her nieces. I loved your comment about having your feet washed with orange Fanta. I love Christine.
ReplyDelete"I felt like I just had my feet washed. With orange Fanta."
ReplyDeletethis might be my favorite line from your blogs so far!