After arriving in Hawassa in the late afternoon on Tuesday, Jack and I decided to go explore the local area. Behind our compound rests a beautiful mountain- we decided we were going to find a way to the top. So, off we went. We walked down the main road a little ways and found a dirt road to the right that looked promising. We made the turn and started our journey. Very shortly after turning down the road, we began to accumulate children. We had a small army of about 28 village children walking behind, beside, and in front of us. We met a sweet, young man named Jos and he told us all about life in this area. He walked us pretty much to the base of the mountain before we decided to turn back. Jos was a great asset to have, he introduced us to locals and kept the children in check when they would begin to overwhelm us.
You have to remember that most of these children have never seen a light-skinned person, or as they say, a “foreignee”.
As we concluded our walk at the edge of the road, we said our goodbyes, “chao,” and headed home. Very soon after arriving back at the compound we discovered that the children had followed us. We attemped to lock our gate without success. The children began to come in and stare and yell things we didn’t understand. We waved politely but kept our distance, as not to egg them on. They began to get closer and closer, so I decided to get them out of the gate and attempt to lock it again. As I pushed the gate closed, they pushed back. They began to yell and ask for money and even stick there tiny hands in my pockets. At one point a little girl took her sandal off and slapped me in the face with it, while another threw stones.
Upset, humiliated, and in complete awe of what was happening, I retreated to the compound and gave up. The children continued to yell and ask for money, but after a while, with no success, they gave up and went home.
I attempted to process this event later that evening and didn’t know how to begin. My team couldn’t understand and thought I was exaggerating, but still attempted to empathize.
The next day we decided as a team to go for a walk again. With seven white people instead of just two, we quickly accumulated more than forty children. We held hands, sang songs, and enjoyed our walk. A few minutes in, the small girl whose pink, bedazzled sandal had slapped me the day before, found her way to my side. I smiled and waved and she immediately grabbed my hand. A little ways into our walk, a few of us began to feel overwhelmed and uncomfortable. The children began to grab and beg and we felt like the control was out of our hands. Girls began to ask for my water bottle, bracelets, and even try and grab my hand away from my new found friend. She would slap them away and say something in her language that I didn’t understand- but I got the jist of based on her tone.
I was in awe of God in this moment. The day before, I was mad. To be hones I did not like this little girl, nor did I want to see her again. Then, a few very short hours later, I found myself loving her. I found myself giving her grace out of the overflow of God’s love. When she defended me I found myself appreciating her.
In the Bible it says,” Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.” Luke 6:27-29
I did not have this mindset the afternoon I got slapped. The Lord had to give me patience to see that little girl for what she was, a little girl. She was and still is a little girl. I don’t know what she has been through or goes through on a daily basis. I simply saw a little girl doing what she has to do to survive. She saw me as a light-skinned woman from America who, in her mind, has everything to give her. I have opportunity, money, bracelets, and clean water. She saw these things as more than she has had or possibly ever will.
This breaks my heart.
My job as a missionary is spreading the name of Jesus, who is love, to break this ideal.
One day the little girl saw me as a money sign. The next day when I showed her grace and love and joy, she saw me as a friend. She stood up for me against the other kids. She no longer asked for my bracelets. She was content with my hand to hold and the love I had to give away.
This is my goal as I travel around the world- to share love. I want that love, which is purely Jesus, to break down barriers, to extend grace and mercy, to allow me opportunities to love those who have never been loved before, and to ultimately show people that they are beloved children of God.
Thank you for reading! Please keep these beautiful children in your prayers!
Love,
Gabbie
