HOPE – God has been teaching me a bit about this word lately...

Today as we were nearing the end of our Bible study where we are studying human dignity and poverty and what God thinks about it all, a wonderful thing happened. As I sat there thinking about heading to the slum after discussing the ills of poverty and holding the hands of children who don’t know what it’s like to eat three square meals a day…. My co-worker was sharing about a widow we met last week. She started by saying it is so important that we, as Christians go to where those in need are at (whether they are across the street, across town, or across the ocean), to meet them on their terms, and get in right there with them to attempt to understand their situation. We spent time in this widow’s home, learned about the tragic death of her husband during the post election violence here in Kenya, and how her family had not eaten for three days prior (we were able provide groceries for her after this visit).

This woman is a trained seamstress and only needs a sewing machine, as well as a bit of business in order to support her family again. After this need was expressed, another member of the Bible study mentioned that they had a spare sewing machine that was ours if we wanted it and promptly made arrangements to have it delivered at four o’clock. Another member of the Bible study shared that she had planned on ordering 13 school uniforms the next day at a store, but instead asked if she could order them from this woman and be her first customer! The group was astounded – a need was displayed – and the body of Christ came around so instantaneously- we knew that only God could orchestrate something so wonderful. As we prayed to end our time, I was near tears thinking about God’s provision for this family.

The sewing machine is beautiful. It is sitting in our office now. It is not beautiful because of the way it looks; it is beautiful because it is a symbol of a HOPE fulfilled. I am learning that God is all about shining his brilliant rays of HOPE into a seemingly hopeless situation, the rays are much more noticeable that way.  One of the questions we ask (even though it is a difficult question) families when we visit their homes is "where do you see God in your situation, if at all?".  The answers are always different, but it forces us to ask the same question of ourselves.  Although we know that God is everywhere and watches over everything - I think we assume he isn't in a situation or pouring out that hope if it is not going the way we think it should go.  God's ideas and plans for things span far beyond my own limited concept of HOPE.  I pray he continues to expand my idea of not only hope, but grace, mercy, love, joy, and forgiveness (to name a few!) - he seems to be in the business of fulfilling these very things in our lives and those around us every day - we just have to notice. 

Bazaar

"Imagine, last night, my children and I went to bed hungry, now today, I have money to buy food for my family!”

Last Saturday, this was said by a woman living in Kibera who had the opportunity to sell her hand-made cards at a bazaar held at a local school.   We met this mother of two students at the school.  She came in to our office a couple of weeks ago just hours after her husband had strangled and almost killed her.  This was not the first time she had been abused by him.  That very day First Love called a new landlord and assisted her in moving into a new home.  Since then she has been making greeting cards to support her family.  She only needed a market in which to sell her beautiful product.

I picked the women up at about 7:30 just outside of Kibera.  Two of the women, Carolyn and Doris had their jewelry in hand ready to sell it in a formal market for the first time.  Doris is the mother of a two month old baby.  She is HIV-Aids positive and is currently awaiting the positive/negative results for her precious baby, Denmark.  Agnes was dressed in her best, also ready for this exciting new opportunity.  I didn’t really think about the importance of this day for these women.  The chance to display the products they had worked so hard to create, practice at making change from large bills, and explaining the different pieces to potential buyers. 

The day became hot, but these women’s smiles only became wider as it wore on.  By the end of the day, these women had sold enough to make the equivalent of two months of work as a casual laborer.  They grinned from ear to ear as we tore down the table and display, their smiles continued throughout the dusty drive home, and as we dropped them back in Kibera, these women looked different.  They looked different because they carried themselves in a distinct manner. They held their heads high as they proudly returned to their small dwellings to tell their children that they would not go to bed hungry that night.

Watching Denmark as the women sell their wares