The mud boots work! It rained so much last week the sneakers got pushed aside and the black rubber boots got put on. We started our walk with the umbrella open and the mud boots on the feet.
Most children are happy to see a white woman. They will run to me and grab my hand. Then every once in awhile there will be a child or two that runs the other way. Saturday was such a day. While walking down through an area of produce stands a couple small children started to cry. As I walked closer the crying got louder and they became more terrified. It was so loud that the people stopped what they were doing and stepped out into the street to see what was happening. Then they saw me, stopped in my tracks, and started laughing. I tried my best to make friends with these two little ones. No matter what I did they just kept screaming. Throughout the day I walked by this area a couple more times. I would smile and wave at the girls as I "quickly" walked by. They got to the point where they didn't cry but they would run and hide behind mom!
On our way out of the slums we decide to walk a different way than usual. On the outskirts of the slums someone calls out "Pastor". We are taken to a 19 year old girl. She had tried to commit suicide 3 or 4 hours earlier. An abusive home life has left her damaged and scarred. With head held down and tears flowing down her face she is told how valuable & special she is.
A woman from the church welcomes her into her house. There she will have a safe place to sleep. Before she leaves us she asks Jesus into her heart. Sunday we learned how Jesus is with us even in the storms of life. Job 38:1 God spoke to Job "Out of the storm".
We had a man join us that has been in the hospital for 1 ½ months. Someone had put poison in his drink and he nearly died. It was necessary to remove a portion of his stomach.
There was a time of fellowship after the service. The ladies had hot coffee for everyone. Then we enjoyed some sunshine as we sat outside for awhile. The area children gather with us. The girls love to play with my hair. Over and over again I hear them say, "it is so soft".
Monday we started visiting an area with 110 homes. We prayed with a woman that was so ill. She tried to sit up in bed when we entered. I told her to just be still and rest. We would not stay but pray for her and then leave. You could see the pain in her eyes.
Her body was hot with fever. I took her hand and prayed for her. That night we received a report of how God had restore her to health. After we prayed the pain and fever left. She got up, dressed and went to work J I saw her the next morning. She was very healthy, on her feet and working with a smile.
As we went door to door in this area two other men accepted Jesus. Neighbors around the church are bringing good reports. They tell us that this area has changed since the church moved in. At night this was an area of much robbery, fights and people were being killed. Now the area is much safer and they feel peace around them.
Waste is not hidden here in Kawangware. It is beneath your feet and in front of your eyes constantly. The smells penetrate your nose while the flies swarm around your head. In places there are mountains made of waste and garbage or so you think. As your eyes quickly scan what is before you they fall on a precious,valuable beating heart. Here in the middle of Kawangware, in the middle of the garbage pile lies another lost and lonely soul.
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