Another family, Another friendship, Another day
Posted on 16th Jun by Lewis − Category: News
A few months ago, when going about our merry way around Kinawataka slum, I came across a house. In fact, not so much of a house as a giant health hazard. The poorly constructed wooden shack with posters coving gaping holes in the wall was precariously perched over a 4ft cliff. A deep trench with waste water trickling through it passed along the adjacent side of the house to the cliff. Living inside was a family of 5 children and their mother. I remember feeling as if I should really focus attention on them in the coming weeks but at the time I wasn’t the Ambassador for Kina slum and so couldn’t dictate much the places that we visited. And besides, it is hard enough to maintain relationships with the families we have come to know and so devoting time to get to know new families is difficult. Though it’s a pretty good problem to have; I’d sooner take that than not knowing anybody! Time passed and due to circumstances of visiting England, attention needed elsewhere in the slum and other things taking higher priorities with deadlines approaching such as the start of term, the family slipped from my mind.
Then one bright and sunny Monday afternoon, the mama turned up at discipleship on her own accord. When Anna spoke to her, she immediately brought her to my attention and made sure that I would visit her. The dad is no longer around so the mama has to look after her 5 children: Night (9), Irene (6), Junior (4), Samson (2) and Grace (9 months). God’s provision for her in these last two weeks has been spectacular. Old neighbours from down the road have cooked for her and her children when they’ve had nothing to eat. In fact, a random man knocked on the door and took the 2 eldest children to go and get some food for them! The head teacher of the local school has offered to accept her 3 eldest children at an enormous discount. The children didn’t have many clothes and so we brought each of them a parcel of clothes. She was so grateful and kept repeating, ‘God bless you. He has answered my prayers!’
James 2 v 5: ‘…hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones that will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?’
Every day, mama Night has to live by faith that God will provide food for her children. That kind of faith is a concept that I don’t think I will ever be able to get a grasp of because I doubt I will ever have to live in such poverty. But with what little faith I do have from the things that God has brought me through, I know that I can trust his word and act upon it. That means loving on her and her family with gifts, with spending time, we kind words, with service, with holding the children. She is so precious and I can feel such hope in her situation. But I’ll let God deal with that, I’ll just live in the here and now and simply love. Another family. Another friendship. Another day.