Manyatta

Manyatta is a low-income village in Kisumu, Kenya.  My very first stop was at a general store where I met Teresa.  What are the odds?  She even spelled her name right, I teased her.

She welcomed me from the wooden bench she was sitting on.  We talked about her general store.  She was working this early morning and would do so until late evening. She strives to earn 6500 shillings a month.  That’s nearly fifty American dollars.   A paying customer arrived with 30 shillings for goods while I was there.  Twenty-three cents.  At this rate, Teresa will need 215 more paying customers by the end of the month. Today, she hopes to get five.  Monthly earnings will cover both home and shop rental and school fees for 3 children, if possible.  Meals for her family are mostly porridge, cabbage and on good days, fish.

A leader on the trip prepped us before our daily journeys.  His wise words were, “You’re going to see heavy things.  Carry it as a prayer not a burden.”

This was true.  I did see heavy things.  One child who was yet three was thrusted into a window towards me to tell this mzungu her name. His frustration with her shyness had him calling her names I wish no child would hear.  I carry her as a prayer.

“Help us love our country,” a pastor asked of us.

We witnessed his.  He’s championing a wholistic ministry that cares about the souls of those in his community but also their needs.  He took us to visit a woman who never misses a Sunday to worship and is never late.  Her home was near collapse with the infestation of termites.  I carry her as a prayer.

“We do what we can and leave the rest to the Lord,” a pastor said.

So, I leave to the Lord a husband’s return, a legal land title, increased businesses, health restored, church completions, a book published, a hospital dream and other cries.

“He has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.  He has not turned His back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.”

“Listen!  The Lord is not too weak to save you, and He is not becoming deaf.  He can hear you when you call.”

He is near.

He can hear.

Psalm 34:17

Psalm 22:24

Isaiah 59:1