She stood there, the burn marks and starvation evident. “Who could do something like this to an innocent child?” is all I could think to myself.
Children follow us around the village every day, but something was different about this girl. It could have been the days of stained tears on her face, the purple and swollen eyes, the cuts and bruises on her frail skin, the mass on her stomach. But I think it was something else. A tug on my heart that I knew came from God. Each day that we were in the village – a new cut or burn on her tiny, weak body.
One day as we sat outside talking to a young Mom named Daneo, the young girl – Nthabeleng is her name – came to us like usual. One of our translators from our ministry gave Nthabeleng a lollipop. Daneo acted very strange about Nthabeleng in particular. Our translator explained that the grandmother of Nthabeleng would insult Daneo if they knew Nthabeleng got food from her home. Seconds later we heard a shout for Nthabeleng and off she ran, lollipop in her hand. The young mom said “they will beat her now.” We asked what this meant and she explained that Nthabeleng lost both of her parents, but lives with a grandmother, a 17 year old, and 7 other kids in the home. She informed us that the family abuses Nthabeleng and gives all of the children food except her. They throw Nthabeleng to the ground on her head and they burn her with fire. This happens daily.
Anger began to rise in my heart – and a few of us decided to follow Nthabeleng. We stopped and prayed then headed there. When we arrived, the grandmother was outside with Nthabeleng – the lollipop gone – and naked, her head in a tub of water appearing to bathe her. Her skinniness and stomach mass more evident than before. We sat down and began to build a relationship with the grandmother and 17 year old. We asked her if we could help her with anything – amidst asking us for food or to pick up cow dung and laughing at us – we wanted to serve her and show Jesus’ love. So each day we went back to this home to do just that. Not loving with materialistic things, but by loving the way Jesus would. One day we asked the family if they would like to come to church with us Sunday. They said they would, and we offered to come and walk with them.
Each day also carried a new lie from the family. One day we arrived to the home and a new bash in Nthabeleng’s head. The grandmother knew we saw it, and immediately jumped in and informed us that “she broke into the neighbors hut and stole food so the neighbor beat her.” What followed next was the most evil look I’ve ever seen someone give, as the grandmother looked on Nthabeleng with shame. We knew this was a lie. We knew it was the grandmother who did the beating. We played games that day and as we got ready to leave, I bent down to tell Nthabeleng goodbye, as she looked in my eyes, gripping onto my fingers with her tiny hands, while shaking her head no. My heart broke more in that moment than it maybe ever has. I knew that she felt safe when we were there, and the second we left the beating would probably continue. We were comfort to her. There was physical peace to her when we were there.
Later that same day as I helped our translator pick up rocks in a field to level some ground on base, I asked him how he remembers to love people who are hard to love. He said this: “Romans 12:9-21”
Let love be genuine.
Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.
Never be wise in your own sight.
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:9-21
So that night I sat down and memorized just that. Every morning on our one hour walk to that village, I would recite it aloud, over and over. God began to transform my heart and mind towards the family and I began to love them as this passage calls us to when my flesh wanted to be so bitter towards them.
When Sunday came around we headed to the village to walk our friends to our village for church. When we arrived at the home, the grandmother stalled and had us waiting one hour for her. But we showed patience. We knew she was doing this on purpose, but Romans 12 was heavy on my heart and I continued in patience and love. Once we headed out, Nthabeleng was so weak that a couple of us took turns carrying her up the mountain. Church was a great service and a teammate of mine shared a sermon on love, in knowing that that particular family would be there. Afterwards we fed them.
I couldn’t have done this without God and meditating on His word, constantly filling my heart and mind with Truth and learning to walk in that and live it out.
As far as Nthabeleng goes – she will be getting help. Our ministry hosts were made aware of the situation and they have such loving hearts and will be moving forward in helping her. I ask that you pray for her. I truly believe that the Lord brought Nthabeleng into our lives to bring her situation into the light and to receive help. And I also know that the Lord used her situation to teach my team and I. I plan to receive updates on her and I will share her progress as I’m informed.
