The moment we arrive at the CarePoint I am immediately searching for Olwasi. As soon as our eyes meet, her whole face smiles. We hug each other and run through the few words she is likes to say in English, “Hello!… nose… purple… white… earring… Gotcha!… so pretty…bye bye!” She is five years old, she is tiny and dark and beautiful. Her caretaker is blind so she is almost always very dirty, with rice stuck in her hair and dirt all over her legs and arms. She radiates innocence and joy. We like to spend our time together counting to twenty, jumping on the tires by the playground, and singing songs.
On this particular day, I woke up at the compound feeling extremely fatigued. My nose was running, my throat was sore, and I began to feel anxious about being sick in a foreign country, wondering how much worse things could get (never a good idea). On the drive to ministry I asked God to give me strength in my weakness and help me to trust Him with my health. I was hopeful and expectant of how God would creatively use me.
Upon arrival, I found Olwasi, as usual! Something was different though, she seemed exhausted and she had snot dried all over her face. She was sick, too.
I walked into the little room at our Carepoint and saw Olwasi asleep on the dirty floor, all alone. I knew this was the ministry God had prepared me for the day. I pulled dover a chair, picked he run, and cradled her onto my lap. She slept there for an hour and a half, allowing my weak body to rest as well and pray over her health. Within that hour and a half, another little girl walked in with a plate of rice and beans (the one meal the kids get served to them each day) and she handed it to me, pointing to Olwasi. This sweet little girl knew that Olwasi wasn’t out there so she thought to get food for her. How precious…
As I sat there holding my girl Olwasi, the Lord revealed some beautiful truths to me:
1. He will always care for us in our weakness. Olwasi was sick so Jesus sent me to her all the way from America to hold her, wipe her nose, clean off her face, and pray. He used her precious little friend to bring her the meal that she would’ve missed out on for the day. Surely, God will provide for me in the same creative ways. He never leaves us alone. God used this truth to further calm my fears of sickness, and remind me to have childlike faith when it comes to my health.
2. We can never stop God from using us. In my poor health, He gave me a restful mission for the day. He worked through me even when I didn’t have the energy to run around in the sun with a bunch of kids. He is so unique!
Ever since that day, Olwasi and I have been best buds. And we are both in good health 🙂 Thank you, Lord, for sweet reminders of your presence and goodness. Thank you for using a precious child to teach me so much about your provision and the importance of faith. Worrying changes nothing. I’ll never not need that truth pounded into my weak, human brain. Father, you are sovereign. I love you, Jesus, and I surrender all to you. Thank you thank you thank you!!
-Anna
