Poverty
So, what is poverty? Technically, I've lived "in poverty" in Tonga. Technically, I've seen it and read about it and even preached about it to my students. But this week I have met people who have niether money, education, or even their health. Compassion manifests itself as a physical reaction in me now- I feel my skin prick, my throat closes, and my heart feel so heavy.
This past week has been emotionally trying. Lots of stuff to handle. I have spent alot of time in the "compounds" with the families we are filming for our documentary. The poverty and the sickness are overwhelming but so is their generosity! I have never felt so welcome and cared for by people with so little. I have to rush home, actually because I must drive Yvonne, my housekeeper, home to her family and I would like to spend some time with them.
You will learn more about Yvonne but i just wanted you to know this story she told me and how it has caused me to cry often this week when i think about it. Yvonne is a "mother" to 7 children two of them are her own but the rest are orphans. Last year the person who employed Yvonne left Zambia and she was without work for all of last year. She told me that every day she would leave the house to go and look for works since she is the head of the family. She would leave her children in her house and they would spend all day singing hymns and praying their mother would find a job. When she would come home the neighbors would tell her how her children prayed all day for her and when she got into the house they would run up to her and cry, "mommy, mommy, did you find a job?" And she would have to tell them that she did not- and once again they would not have dinner. She had no money and no food with 7 mouths to feed. But her children would smile and say, "that's ok mommy, God will find you a job. He will bring you one- we know it!"
Then at this point she turns to me and says, "And then God brought you to me, madam. He answered my prayers with you."
I have never felt, in my whole life, like a messenger of God's will more than at that moment.
There are more stories to tell. So many each day but I must go now to be with Yvonne and her family.
This weekend Heida, Bryony, and I are driving up to the Central Province, near the town of Serenje, to the village of musamani to visit a Peace Corps Volunteer we met a few weeks ago. I am so excited to go and live a rural village and I am sad that it is only for one night. But I am sure the 48 hour adventure will bring more experiences than I am able to re-tell.
Have a great weekend!
This past week has been emotionally trying. Lots of stuff to handle. I have spent alot of time in the "compounds" with the families we are filming for our documentary. The poverty and the sickness are overwhelming but so is their generosity! I have never felt so welcome and cared for by people with so little. I have to rush home, actually because I must drive Yvonne, my housekeeper, home to her family and I would like to spend some time with them.
You will learn more about Yvonne but i just wanted you to know this story she told me and how it has caused me to cry often this week when i think about it. Yvonne is a "mother" to 7 children two of them are her own but the rest are orphans. Last year the person who employed Yvonne left Zambia and she was without work for all of last year. She told me that every day she would leave the house to go and look for works since she is the head of the family. She would leave her children in her house and they would spend all day singing hymns and praying their mother would find a job. When she would come home the neighbors would tell her how her children prayed all day for her and when she got into the house they would run up to her and cry, "mommy, mommy, did you find a job?" And she would have to tell them that she did not- and once again they would not have dinner. She had no money and no food with 7 mouths to feed. But her children would smile and say, "that's ok mommy, God will find you a job. He will bring you one- we know it!"
Then at this point she turns to me and says, "And then God brought you to me, madam. He answered my prayers with you."
I have never felt, in my whole life, like a messenger of God's will more than at that moment.
There are more stories to tell. So many each day but I must go now to be with Yvonne and her family.
This weekend Heida, Bryony, and I are driving up to the Central Province, near the town of Serenje, to the village of musamani to visit a Peace Corps Volunteer we met a few weeks ago. I am so excited to go and live a rural village and I am sad that it is only for one night. But I am sure the 48 hour adventure will bring more experiences than I am able to re-tell.
Have a great weekend!
posted by Jen at 3:29 AM
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