This past week, my team traveled to a township down the road called Masiphumelele (or “Masi” for short) and for the first time since leaving home, I felt like I was really on the World Race. The houses are actually shacks, made out of corrugated metal and wood. Groups of people walk the streets, and my team sure stands out as not being a part of the local crowd. The small children run from every direction when they see us for a bear hug or thumbs-up handshake. Women carry their babies on their back only using a towel wrapped tightly around their torso… no need for fancy baby wraps or strollers here. And when you turn the corner, you can see grills set up along the street cooking the neighborhood’s snack of choice: chicken feet. Life in Masi is dangerous, but out of the desperation, it is filled with a sense of tight-knit community.
My team spent the mornings here at a daycare center that a woman opened 8 years ago, free of charge for families. The first day, I gravitated towards the toddler room as they seemed to be a bit less rambunctious than the preschoolers. I tried my best to evenly disperse my attention to the 20 or so toddlers, but one little girl caught my eye. Katrine, somewhere between 1 and 2 years old, sat quietly by herself as she watched the others climb around on the jungle gym. I made my way over to her and tried my best to entertain her; but whatever I did, I couldn’t get her to smile. I tickled her belly, tickled her little toes, and made funny faces. All she did was stare at me—I had never met a little baby so serious before. So, I just held her… and when she melted into my arms, I realized that was all she wanted. We sat there together on the concrete, leaned up against a rusty shack and snuggled until it was time to leave. One of the staff members later told me that Katrine can only understand Malawi, and no one else at the daycare center speaks it, so she just keeps to herself.
On our second day at the daycare center, I walked into the toddler room and my heart melted as Katrine wobbled over to me. She held both of my hands and walked me to where she wanted to sit, and plopped down in my lap once again—it became her safe place. I sang to her, rocked her back and forth, and eventually I heard it—the most beautiful little giggle, accompanied by a gleaming white smile that contrasted so greatly with her dark skin. When she looked up into my eyes with that big smile that was previously hidden, God’s love came flooding into my heart. It was like a glimpse into heaven; for that split second, nothing in the world felt out of place. It felt as if my heart could never experience pain again. Time stood still despite the chaos of the children running and screaming around us.
I was only able to spend 4 mornings at the daycare center with sweet little Katrine, but it was enough to completely liquefy my heart that can be so hard at times when I get caught up in the difficulties of life on the race. I don’t know her story, and I don’t know which little shack she goes back to at the end of each day. All I do know is that this little angel was brought into my life to re-set my priorities and erase my frustrations. I’m not going to lie; this month has been rough for me. Spending 24 hours a day with the same 6 people is a struggle… the introvert inside of me wants to curl up into a ball and hide away from everyone. My frustrations usually end up coming out in a bad attitude, or else they flood out of me in tears. But God spoke to me through the beauty he revealed to me in those moments with Katrine; he said remain focused on me and I’ll carry you through this. I’ll show you more beauty than you’ve ever imagined. Don’t forget the reason why I brought you here.
