Leaving Mama Rita’s was tear-filled and painful, but after a
few days of reflection, I wouldn’t have traded it in for anything.
I’m back in Nelspruit, South Africa staying at a beautiful house for 2
days before heading to our mid-year debrief in Manzini, Swaziland.
I’ve been sleeping in a bed with sheets and a down comforter, showering in hot
water twice a day, and using an actual toilet (that flushes and has a SEAT), but I’ve found myself
missing the little rat-infested home with a concrete potty hole. That family
took a hold of my heart and I have a feeling that they won’t be letting go
anytime soon.
Thank you to all of you who donated, over $2,000 was raised
for Mama Rita and the kids! The family had never asked us for anything and had
no clue what was coming, so they were quite surprised when we showed up with a
truckload of mattresses, blankets, and a deep freezer! We also purchased school
supplies to last all 32 children through next school year, 5 bags of rice, and
cooking oil. I’ve never seen anyone so grateful! The kids had a hayday on the
mattresses; they’ve never known anything but straw mats on concrete floors.
They bounced all over them, did headstands, and for the first time ever, could
not WAIT to go to bed. A few hours after bringing all the goods, I opened the
freezer and found a dozen frozen juice bags (what the family will be selling
for income) already in it. They didn’t waste an hour before putting it to use.
Due to AIM policy, we were unable to put money donated
through AIM towards the purchase of the land. However, we did get $500 through
personal donation, so the land is halfway to being purchased! If you are still
interested in donating for the purchase of land and the building of a new home,
I will put up details soon on how that can be arranged.
Thank you again to everyone for their prayers and donations…
this family’s life will never be the same. The best hour of our entire visit in
Mozambique
was one of our last ones. Right before leaving, the five of us sat down to hear
Mama Rita’s testimony. Peter translated for us, and Mama Rita explained through
him how she became a believer, how she and Ezekiel started taking in children,
and the details of his murder. Robby, who’s good at asking the tough questions,
asked Rita what she went through when Ezekiel passed away, and how she is
currently handling it. She told us of how she was in complete despair, how
Ezekiel had been running the home and providing, and how she had no clue how
she would go on. She was never angry with the Lord, but was continually asking
Him “why”. She then told us, through tears, that in the last week, the Lord had
been answering those questions. He was answering every single one of her
prayers and was providing not only for her, but for each of the children as well.
It was such an encouragement to learn that I, that my team and I, were an
answer to someone’s prayer! Just by being
there!
It was incredibly humbling. We tried to explain to her that
SHE had taught us so much more! I have never experienced such love, such
hospitality, such faith! That family’s story is beauty from ashes if I’ve ever
seen it. After Ezekiel’s death, they pressed deeper and deeper into the Lord
and truly have a faith that is tested by fire. And oh, how beautiful it is!
On our 21 hours of bus travel back into South Africa, I
did a lot of thinking about what it really means to be loved by the Almighty. I
mean, he is ALMIGHTY. He needs nothing from me. Not even my love. But He wants it and he desires it. He longs for me to chase Him the way that He has chased
me!
The phrase “God loves you” has become so trite. You see it
on at least 4 bumper stickers a day, carved into the plastic partition of a
bathroom stall, and on a bookmark you got 9 Christmas’s ago from your Great
Aunt Glenda. I could write a mini novel on it right now because I’m rather
fired up… but I’ll hold off. Just do me a favor.. take 5 minutes and just
ponder it . Ponder the fact that the Almighty God, the King of Kings, the Alpha
and Omega, the Creator of the UNIVERSE, loves you.
Not in an “I love hamburgers” or “I love my neighbor” kind of
way; but in an intense, passionate, blush-causing, I-WOULD-DIE-FOR-YOU kind of
way.
And He did.
