Wednesday, March 21st was my birthday. I had a
diverse group of guests at my party. My teammates were there (well except for
Matt Patch, who was at the hospital being tested for malaria). My amazing
friend Jenny who takes photographs of disabled children for CURE hospital came
(with cream cheese, bless her!!). My friend Gibbon, a Massi Warrior/ RVA
security guard and another friend of his joined us, as well as, Two older men,
visiting from America doing work with the African Christian radio. There was
also a man named Mohammad with an amazing story. I’m going to keep it a bit vague
and brief for his protection.
Mohammad was working at a hospital in Somalia, where many
foreigners work. One average day at work, he was captured by Al Shabab. He was
held hostage, beaten nearly to death, with knives to his neck and bullets shot
near his feet as he was questioned about his alliances. He endured these
horrifying conditions for 15 days before he and 3 others escaped by foot. They
traveled more than 200 kilometers to the Kenya boarder without carrying any food.
One of the men shot a water buffalo and they cooked it over a fire. At the
border they sold the gun they were carrying to get money to take a matatu
(public transport) as far as it would get them into Kenya. He met a hospital
chaplain, who was able to help him find a place to stay for a while and a
temporary job as a translator.
After hearing Mohammad’s incredible story I told him he was
very courageous. He said, “That is just life in Somalia�. Then he went on to
explain that before heading to the market, men would put a slip of paper in
their pocket with their name, a phone number and a request for someone to call
that family member if they had been killed. He said that when you are out
walking down the street, people just start shooting each other without warning
and without concern for the innocent bystanders. He said every family in
Somalia has to have a gun (and not just a little pistol, but a AK47). As
Mohammad shared all these things I got the sense that his spirit, though it had
endured horrendous circumstances, had not been broken. There was something about
the way he spoke that resounded with bravery and resilience. I’m inspired!
It’s likely nothing new to those of you reading this that
Somalia is unsafe. I’ve heard it in the news and seen things on the Internet.
Somehow it is different when you meet an individual and hear what they have
personally been through. I wish every person could sit and have a conversation
with someone like Mohammad or my friends in the camp still living as refugees
in their own country for over 4 years. Their story is not only heartbreaking, but also
inspiring! Once you’ve heard it, once you’ve shook their hand or held their
child, it seems impossible to go back to life as normal and do nothing.
God has placed a piece of His heart for these people in me.
My heart aches with love and compassion for them. My greatest (birthday) gift
would be to see them thriving. My heart delights in seeing God’s plans unfold
and to be a tangible vessel of His love.
God may not ask you to move to Kenya. Perhaps He will ask you to intercede in prayer or financially support a cause such as this. Whatever He asks of you… don’t ignore it. Don’t be afraid to ruin your comfortable “normal” life; the benefits that come from opening your heart to share in God’s compassion far out-way any sacrifice. Be Inspired!
