One the way to Nairobi a few weeks ago I got robbed by a
street vendor selling corn on the cobb or fruit. I don’t know which one he was
selling cause I don’t know who stole the money for my fare to the city. I got
100 KES pick pocketed from my shirt pocket by one of the 10 vendors who rush the matatu (a 15 person passenger van) sticking their hands in the windows selling all kinds of things for pretty cheap. The worst part is that I didn’t even see it coming,
but I noticed the money gone when I heard the younger vendors kind of snicker
when they knew they got away with it. I do know one thing is for sure. They
needed that money (about 1.10 USD) way more than I did.
(This isn’t the guy, but just an example)
Nonetheless, I was a little ticked off. No, I was flipping
mad someone would steal from me. I was hurt. I was upset. I didn’t care that it
was only 100 schillings. I was just mad. I think it was the principal of the
matter that got to me the worst. I mean come on! Here I am, trying to help
people in this country, and someone stole from me right under my nose. I didn’t
even see it coming. The very very worst part of it all is that they laughed at me
once they realized they got away with it.
Then I pause.
And look at my life up to this point.
I realized something.
This was only the second time something has been taken from
me in my life. They last time something was stolen from me was a bicycle back
in college. I think it cost around 80 bucks.
Then I think of Camp Vision down in the valley.
Their entire way of life has been stolen from them. Their
homes. Their jobs. Their crops. Their husbands. Their wives. Their children. Their
friends. Their entire families were stolen from them. Their lives as they knew
it was completely stripped away from them.
How the heck can I sit around and sulk over an old bike and
100 Kenya Schillings?
I don’t claim to know a lot, but I know this for sure.
No one can steal your FAITH.
No one can steal your HOPE.
No one can steal God’s LOVE.
I think people in Camp Vision will begin to grasp something
a lot of us forget, take for granted, or simply do not to take the time to realize
how important the things are they can never be stolen from you.
