Wingapo friends!
One of the most prominent thing about Zimbabwe is the incredible culture of hospitality. Everyone we meet wants to ask questions about us. They want to know our name, why we are here, where we will be, how is our day. Our main ministry this month was soccer.
One night after coming back from soccer, we met some friends that were checking out Youth for Christ Ministries. After a short conversation, they went to a meeting while we showered and started dinner. A hour or two later, I am sitting in the main room in my pajamas reading a book when my new friend comes out. She asks me if she can talk to me outside for a moment.
We go outside and she explains that she has really wants me to come and meet her family. I grabbed another teammate, and off we went. On the way our new friend explained that she had found a good Christian community in Youth for Christ and her parents were not sure where she was spending her time. She wanted to show them. We talked about her brothers and sisters and Jesus.
Upon arriving, we embraced every member of the family and ended up sitting on a sofa in the midst of everyone. With probably upwards of fifteen people all gathered in one room we talked until the conversation switched to Ndebele (the primary language of the area).
As we sat a watched, our friend comes back out with a kettle and a bowl. We watched as she knelt down in front of our host, offering the bowl and kettle. Then we watched as she poured the water into the bowl to wash his hands. Then it was our turn.
I have had my feet washed. It’s powerful, but this was much more so. As she knelt to offer the bowl out to me, I could see nothing but the purest joy and gratitude that this was a service she was allowed to provide for those she called friends. Talk about humbling. All the more so because this service was practical. They wanted to feed us, which means this service which has the right to be considered necessary or normal for her was clearly a joy and privilege for her.
This 17 year old girl is going to change Zimbabwe. She is already changing the world. Her heart for Christ is so pure and full of life, that everything around her is changed. I want to be her when I grow up.
