I want to tell you about a woman who impacted my life more than she will ever know.
I want to tell you about Kevina.
First you should know, our time in Uganda has been ATL which stands for Ask The Lord. This month we did not have a host or ministry already set up for us before we arrived. The vision behind ATL is to create a daily habit of asking the Lord what He has for you each and everyday and to really learn “Life is ministry and ministry is life.” It is also an opportunity to see God move in ways you other wise do not see when you already have a host and ministry set up for your team upon arrival in the country.
Our first morning in Uganda after prayer, my teammate Paige shared the Lord had laid it on her heart to lead a women’s bible study during our time in Uganda. That afternoon we all went to town and were walking down the street looking at different shops ~ when my friend Aryne met a lady named Kevina. Kevina was smiling ear to ear and welcoming us to look at her shop. She asked Aryne what we were doing in Jinja. Aryne shared we were on a 11 month mission trip sharing the Word of God and God’s Love. She quickly shared how she had spent many years working at a local orphanage and wanted to know if we wanted to volunteer there. Aryne waved for me to come meet Kevina and I did. After telling me about the orphange I told her I would talk to the team and call her the next day.
As I thought the conversation was over and turned to walk away she grabbed my hand, looked me directly in the eyes, and said “Can I gather a group of women who are HIV positive and you share the word of God with them?” Remembering what Paige had shared that morning about wanting to lead a women’s bible study I said “Of course.” Kevina said “It is okay?” And I said “Yes we would love to.”
I believe we each have these moments in our lives when something happens and you feel like Jesus was just talking directly to you through someone. Sometimes it’s through a preacher. Sometimes it’s through a stranger. Sometimes it happens so quickly we may not even notice. Monday afternoon I walked away not believing what she had just said. I thought that was such a God moment. We prayed for this and He so quickly answered through a woman I just met.
During my time in Uganda, this woman who was a stranger only a month before quickly became someone I will never forget. Kevina is a woman of God, sister in Christ, mother to many, and firm believer in the power of prayer.
Each day Kevina gets a taxi from her village to the outskirts of town and walks, to save money, through the crowded busy streets of Jinja to her little shop. Kevina’s shop is filled with her own handmade jewelry, handmade shirts, and many little paintings. She does not make much, but she knows without a doubt God will provide enough money each day to feed her family and meet their every need.
Four years ago, Kevina‘s husband passed away. Soon after he passed away, she was diagnosed with a similar sickness as well. This diagnoses has never once caused her faith to waver. She knows without a doubt God is the ultimate healer. She knows God will heal her body if not here on earth, she knows she will experience full healing in Heaven.
Matthew 17:20 says, ”He replied, Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ’Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” My friend Kevina has faith much bigger than the size of a mustard seed.
Kevina knows what ever may come her way nothing is too big for God. She told Paige and I everyday while sitting in her shop, “He will make a way where there is no way!” She gets it. When I doubt God and doubt His plan, she reminds me God will always make a way.
Bob Goff once said, ”Instead of saying you’re a missionary, why not just go somewhere to learn about your faith from the people you find there and be as helpful as you can be? The neat part is most people I know who go on “mission trips” are already doing exactly that. We don’t need to call everything we do “ministry” anymore either. Just call it Tuesday. That’s what people who are becoming love do.”
Most of my afternoons in Uganda were spent sitting on the floor in Kevina’s little shop laughing, loving, and encouraging her to keep the faith. Truthfully she loved and encouraged me more than I could have ever imagined. I hope to never forget all of the sweet stories she shared about her family, the laughs we shared, and many many lessons learned from Kevina.
Chasing after Jesus,
Emily Ann
