The Least of These
Their one room house consists of walls made out of mud and sticks, with a floor that has so many holes at the bottom.
And as a Stephen, Simon, Tosh from the team, Phyllis and I met Esther she welcomed us into her place with only one bed,
a hard wooden bench that barely even fits and almost doesn’t make the door close. Her husband, named Chalice is blind,
sits in a wooden chair just outside the door as the days melt away. Here I sat down with Esther and told her we were
sharing the love of God and I asked her about her faith. She had never believed in Christ and has been burdened with her
husbands sickness/blindness and poverty; not able to afford food. I shared with her the love of God, and that He is our Rock
in times of trouble, He hears us when we pray, and that eternal life is the true gift of God. She began to tear up as she heard
the Good News and desired to know Christ. I then explained the gospel to her more as Phyllis translated for me and when
she decided to know Christ I had the privilege to lead her to the Lord. She was crying in gratitude, and Tosh and I also prayed
over her husband and laid our hands over his eyes for healing.
And even though the Lord didn’t heal him in that moment,
he told us he was very hungry before we got there and now
when we came the presence of God was so strong that he
isn’t hungry anymore and was so blessed. I told him that
his faith in blindness challenges me to trust God in our
hardships. God then told me about not just giving people
spiritual health but also physical too when we are able too.
Afterwards Simon and I bought the man some bananas
and oranges and brought them back to the family. They
were so thankful and I promised them that I would bring
a Swahili Bible the next day.
The following day the same team went back for follow up because I had
promised them I would bring Esther the Bible, and this time Luann joined us.
When we arrived Esther was so happy to see us that she came quickly and
gave me a huge hug. She invited us back into her house and Chalice with his
walking cane came with blindness and they both sat on their bed as we talked.
This time Chalice dominated the conversation as he told us how much he was
so blessed yesterday and so was Esther. Esther told us that ever since
yesterday she has felt so at peace and things have been great. Then Chalice told
us about his disability. A few years ago Chalice developed a cyst behind his
eyes that have caused them to go blind. He said that there was someone
who could have fixed them in Uganda but he couldn’t afford it at all (you would
understand even in the place they live in). He then told us that he has been
waiting for years for paperwork from the government to recognize him as disabled
so the family could receive at least some help but nothing had happened for
years. Chalice then told us that when we met him and Esther and prayed over his eyes and health, after we left that very
same day came a letter and it was the application for disability from the government. He said it would have never happened
unless we came and believe it was a true answer to prayer. He then told us that the process can take a while because
he has to have two passport photos to go with the application, help to fill it out, and it cost 500 shillings to do it (only like
$7 American) but they couldn’t afford it. So I told Chalice that I would take his photo and find a photo shop to get them
made and would find a way, Stephen then told him that he would help him with the application, and I told Chalice I
would pay the 500 shillings for him so to get this process done as soon as possible.
All of a sudden Chalice and Esther began to cry in thankfulness that these strangers who came to share God’s
love are now meeting these physical needs and it was definitely a work of God in such a short time. Chalice
told me that when we first arrived he could truly sense the presence of God, and people in the housing community
who wanted to be far from us now want to near. He couldn’t stop telling us how thankful he was and the blessing
of God through us. So today Simon and I went to the town part of Nakuru and got his photos developed and paid
for them, and on Tuesday we’ll sit down and get his application done and paid for so he can receive what may
have never happened if it wasn’t for God’s intervention. They said they will come to the church for the very first time,
Chalice will depend on the strength of his legs and guide, but Esther said she definitely couldn’t refuse anymore
now she sees that God is real. Here in Kenya, going to bed with mosquito nets around you is nothing to deal with
when God is doing this.
