Monday, March 19, 2012

Walk a mile in their shoes


A common occurrence when I am in town is for me to see street kids begging for money. When I first came to Zambia almost 16 months ago I was to the point of avoiding going to town because it broke my heart so much. I knew that I could not give money or food to them all nor that I was called to but I would see them and the image of their faces and their plight would be on my mind all day. It would keep me awake at night as I wondered what if anything they had eaten that day, if they were being abused or safe. Where were they sleeping? In a gutter, behind a building, in front of a shop? I felt so crushed in my spirit, helpless in a way because knowing these children and countless others are suffering. My prayer then was that God would give me wisdom in whom to help and that my heart would always remain moved by such things. I was afraid that with time my heart would grow calloused to the suffering that I see pretty much on a daily basis. I want my heart to be moved by the things that move my heavenly Fathers heart, not just turn a blind eye to make it easier for me to sleep at night.
Last year the Lord brought Joseph across my path. For those of you who don’t know about Joseph, he was a boy begging on the streets to get money for food, he lives with his grandmother in one of the slums because both his parents died when he was still an infant. He was very sick and malnourished. He is about 13 but looked about 9 and was super skinny. Because of you I am able to now take that family food on a weekly basis and was able to finance a new tin roof for their mud brick home before the rainy season came. My vision for Joseph is to see him in school, something I am now working on. So thank you all for your sacrificial giving, you are making a difference. This past Saturday I was passing by a big field in the slums that on the weekend is transformed into countless mini makeshift soccer fields and seemingly all of the children in that area flock there to pass the day in the sheer bliss of being a child for a change. As I passed by and my eyes surveyed the land my heart was joyful to see such. Suddenly, Joseph came running up to me with a smile on his face. I smiled back and pointed in the direction of his house, “communicating” for him to meet me there. I dropped 2 weeks worth of food and then he hurried back to continue playing with the neighborhood boys. Seeing him smile makes my day. I know that God has great things planned for him and I cant wait to see what it is!
Right now God has burdened my heart with 3 others, 2 boys and a young girl that has a small child. I am praying to see how God wants me to help each of them.  I think the best thing for the 2 boys is to get them in the street boy rehabilitation program. I will need to contact the organization that runs this and see what they can do. The boys would have to agree to go; they don’t force them because if they did then rehabilitation would not be effective.  Both speak very little English but we are able to communicate on a basic level. One of the boys is always outside the grocery store and as I exit the door he is always eager to take the cart to the taxi and back the bags in the boot (trunk) for me. His payment is always a snicker bar which he quickly starts eating as I pull off, with a big smile on his face as he waves to me. I noticed last year that this boy is very intelligent and apparently he stays with his blind grandmother. He told me he was in school but as of late it is clear that this is no longer the case. As you leave the grocery store you will see about 10-15 boys between 14 and their early 20’s washing cars, carrying bags to taxis, greeting passerbys and asking for “small change.” I have learned most of their faces and with time started to notice things I was naïvely blind to before. The most disturbing and dangerous thing is that many will get small empty plastic drinking bottles and put a small amount of gasoline into the bottle and then sniff the fumes until they are high. Not to long ago as I came out of the grocery store I was surprised not to find my young helper at the door. I walked out into the small crowd and scanned the faces looking for him.  As I pushed my cart to the taxi I found him sitting on the curb doing what was in my mind unthinkable..he was sniffing gasoline. My heart cried out NO, NO, NO…not him God..not him, please! I grabbed the bottle from him, the lid still off since he was in the middle of sniffing, put the lid back on and threw it far into the ditches of a construction site. He glared at me angrily but I didn’t care, my heart was crushed for him. I knew if he continued along this path his life would soon be over. I called a taxi driver over and told him to scold the boy for doing that and told him to tell him not to do that anymore. I went home only able to think of this boy, he is about 14 or 15 I would guess. Be praying that he will be willing to go into this program and that God would protect him and draw him unto himself.
This past Sunday after church I needed to buy a few small things so I walked with Swazi from church into town to the grocery store. As we came out and were walking to the bus station someone came up from behind me and clutched my hand. I turned only to see the smiling face of my little helper. He pointed at his feet showing me his shoes. That was his way of asking me to buy him a pair of new shoes. He was wearing old flip-flops that were worn nearly flat and had many holes. I told him to meet me at the “shoe store” tomorrow morning and I would buy him a pair. He smiled and said ok. In the morning I rushed to meet him before school started but did not find him. After school I decided to go back to the area I always see him and see if he was there. After looking for about 3 minutes I found him and motioned for him to join me in the store. He came quickly as did another shoeless boy of about 16. I told him to pick a pair of shoes and he went to the work boot area at first, one of the most expensive types of shoes. I then had one of the workers come and instruct him in Bemba of his “price range” After about 20 minutes he selected a pair of white “leather looking” tennis shoes with a red and blue stripe on them. He held them up and smiled. I shook my head yes and he practically ran up to the checkout line and put the shoes next to the register, ignoring the line of people. I guess he was excited…lol As I was walking after him the other boy asked me if I could get him a pair of $2 flip flops. I told him yes but instructed him to pick a pair of the more sturdy Velcro cloth sandals. He was very happy and when I handed him his bag with his shoes he grabbed my hand and thanked me earnestly. We walked out of the store together and they walked me to my taxi, both thanking me again. Please keep these precious children in your prayers!
 In my next blog I will talk about the other boy and the girl with the child that the lord has placed on my heart. 

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Ackson and Joyce

Working on times tables

Ackson

My precious Dyness

Mwamba, Wana and Joyce

Me and some of my boys

Lesson Prep

what happens when my hair is down

Steven, Cuthbert and Jonathan

2 of the triplets, Haggai and Amos

My beautiful Taonga