Love is always patient,
Love is always kind,
Love is never envious
Or vaunted up with pride.
Nor is she conceited,
And never is she rude,
Never does she think of self
Or ever get annoyed.
She never is resentful,
Mama Rita is LOVE.
In my recent travels through the unstable country of Mozambique, I was blessed with the opportunity to spend time with one of the most loving people n this world.
……her name is Mama Rita.
Mama Rita is a widow who provides for her 7 children as well as 25 orphans.
……she is a mother to the motherless.
One year ago her husband, Pastor Ezekial, was killed for his faith.
….she is a widow of a martyr.
She lives in a small 4 room house.
…..she doesn’t complain.
She wakes up to the same challenges and tasks everyday.
…..she relies on the strength of God, not her own.
Despite all that her world is, all the things that she has “every right” to complain about or question……she doesn’t!
…..Mama Rita doesn’t show love, she IS love!
The moment Kim and I stepped into her small house, a spirit of joy, praise and love overwhelmed me. I’ve
never experienced such a warm welcome for a small visit. I felt like a king returning to my great city after a
triumphal victory. The place was suddenly packed with many random people and children as song broke out
from the hearts of those surrounding us. the Lord was praised for our deliverance and protection as we
arrived unharmed.
My 2 short days there were just long enough to get a glimpse into the life that these people lived. As I heard
Mama Rita’s story of her late husband, I found it hard not to be angry. Where was the justice? Where was the
support? Where was the love in all of this. I looked over at Mama Rita and realized that she obviously saw
something that I didn’t.
Mama Rita didn’t only look at this worldy point of view and see a murdered husband. She saw the Lord’s
glory! Yes she missed her husband. Yes her husband saved her from a life far from the Lord. Yes she had
every right to be an angry and bitter person. but she wasn’t!
Despite the minimal things that she had to offer us, we had more than enough food to eat for 2 people, I had
hot buckets of water always waiting for me, I had more hugs come my way than the past 6 months combined.
This was servanthood, humility, and giving at a new level for me. This was LOVE.
I’m still struggling to have the words to explain how I felt. It was impossible to feel anything but joy. All the
time!
Imagine all of us living like that?!
