The Southlands slum is just across the street
from Deliverance Church Southlands. The slum recently had a fire break out.
While the area directly affected and burnt down was not very big, it affected
many. There were approximately forty shanty-houses that were burnt to the
ground. This means one hundred people were without the shelter of sticks and
tin usually forming their homes. Many of their possessions, previously held in
a 6’x10’ house, are gone.
Today we went out into this slum. Our team went out in
pairs, along with one or two of the church members. As we walked along we met
people, prayed with them, sat on their couches, held their children.
As we were sitting in a house, I saw a girl sitting outside
in the dirt, playing with a stick. For some reason, she caught my eye and I
tried to catch her attention from inside the house. She didn’t acknowledge my
wave so I figured wasn’t interested or wasn’t paying attention. Soon after we
left this house, she came across our path again. I was struck.
Her name is Tab. I don’t know how old she is. I don’t know
if she knows how old she is. When I looked in her face, I saw the eyes of
another one of “my girls�. Yeah, this may make absolutely no sense. Or it may
be the similarity in facial structure or something logical like that. Whatever.
I’ve never had a full conversation with either one.
I don’t know if I’ll ever see either one again.
I have no idea what their life looks like day to day.
I don’t know how many brothers or sisters they have.
I have no idea what they hope or dream.
I don’t have any idea if they’re going to be eating a full meal tonight.
One I have no idea where she sleeps. One I’ve slept with in a twin bunk bed.
One from the slums of Kenya. One from an orphanage in Ukraine.
Tab and Nastia, two of my girls.
