It was another beautiful day in Uganda. Evas, our ministry contact, picked us up from home to drive us to meet another Chilli Child. Evas’ ministry, Chilli Children, provides services for children with disabilities, and provides chilli peppers so that parents can generate income to support their children who have special needs. Before we left, Evas opened the trunk of her car and grabbed a bag. Reaching in, she pulled out a handmade musical instrument, four dried fruits tied to a stick to create a shaker, then tied together in threes. “The family we are going to see today makes these using fruit they grow on their property. They dry them so the seeds make the noise. They sell them for 5000 shillings. You can buy them if you want. It’s to support Isaac.”
I looked at the shaker and thought, Well, that’s cool, but there is no way that is fitting into my backpack. And I don’t particularly feel like spending the money.
Four of us squeezed into the backseat and one sat shotgun as Evas drove us down the rocky dirt roads towards Isaac’s house. Evas parked alongside the road and we piled out of the vehicle. She led us down a narrow dirt path, past a few houses, past the tomato plants and through the grove of banana trees.
We could hear Isaac before we saw him. As the banana trees gave way to a small homestead, we saw Isaac sitting in his wheelchair in the shade, screaming excitedly as we approached.
Evas introduced us to Isaac, who has cerebral palsy, and to his parents, an elderly couple who were, Evas said, “born again.” Their love for Isaac was obvious; they welcomed us gladly.
Isaac’s dad showed us the bush where the shaker-instrument fruit grows. His mom brought out some mats for us to sit on, along with a bag of the instruments. She laid the instruments out on top of the bag for us to see, and I was happy to realize that they were smaller than the ones in Evas’ trunk, and I could probably fit one into my backpack. They also brought out a bag of dried chilli peppers. These two “income-generating activities” are the family’s main means of supporting Isaac.
Four of us each purchased a shaker for 5000 shillings (less than $2) apiece. By this time Isaac had calmed down and was watching the scene before him with a smile on his face as his parents stood nearby. We asked the family to get together for a picture, then prayed as Evas translated.
After praying, Isaac’s mom shared that they had purchased a new mattress for Isaac the day before. The mattress cost 30,000 shillings, and they had 5000 to use as a down payment. They had no idea where the rest of the money would come from, but put their trust in Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. With our shaker purchases, they were nearly able to pay off the rest of the mattress purchase! “Mukama asiimwe – Praise God!” exclaimed Isaac’s mom.
And I’m ashamed of myself because why did I ever want to keep my less than two dollars? Praise to the God who uses us in spite of our own selfishness.
Praise to the God who provides for His children!
