It’s The Small Things…

Easily a 10-15 minute moto ride to immigration, I decided to walk instead.  I asked God to put someone in my path that I could talk to.  Sometimes it’s hard here because not everyone knows English.  An hour later I arrived at immigration with a cool souvenir in hand.  Along the way, I met Alex.  Alex started walking with me and wanted to know where I was from.  I told him Pennsylvania; do you know it? Below New York.  “Yes!”  That’s where Pittsburg is, right?  Yes!  After about 5 minutes or so, he finally reveals the real reason for starting this conversation.  He’s selling these homemade cards.  I end up buying one, and praying with him. 

Last year on the race I met an Uber driver in Uganda called Wilson.  We had a good conversation and I ended up taking his number so we could keep in contact.  His wife was pregnant and I wanted to keep in contact.  About 2 months after our meeting, I get a message from him that his wife had a stillbirth.  They lost the baby.  I was devastated for them.  We continued to keep in contact and TODAY I got a message from him.  “Praise the Lord sis Kelly.  My wife delivered a baby boy safely”.  Along with the message were pictures of this precious baby. PRAISE THE LORD INDEED!!

About a week ago one of the ladies comes to the house to pick up her sewing machine.  She had invited me to her house a while back but I didn’t have a chance to go.  Today, I had nothing on the agenda and I asked if I could come to her house.  She was very excited!  So, I went.  She gave me tea and bread.  I met her daughter and adopted son.  She shared about how she got into HOPE and her time there.  I was admiring her house and told her I liked one of her pictures on the wall.  Immediately she said, “You like it?  You can have it.  A friend gave it to me, but now I want you to have it.”  I tried to politely decline it, but she would not have it.  A mother, trying to feed three mouths, living in a small one or two room house….and no hesitation to just give.  She was so honored that I would just take time to spend with her and her family. 

Jogging, I usually take a few familiar roads.  Often, I meet one of our next-door neighbors early in the morning and greet him with a Mwaramutse (Good Morning).  If I go the bumpy, rocky way, I meet another woman.  Our conversations are usually brief as well, but I get excited to run past her.  I always know that we will greet each other, ask how each other are doing, and send each other off with a umunsi mwiza (Have a good day!).  She always makes MY day!

During the past week of mask making, HOPE was also gathering information on children who need to be sponsored.  I ended up taking pictures of the kids for their profiles.  Thankfully, I had purchased a bag of lollipops the other day.  I ended up giving all the kids some.  They were ecstatic and some of the first ones who received asked. “Can we go tell our friends (who were around the other side of the house giving information) to come get one?”  This also turned into one kid playing with my phone, taking selfies, and a lot of joy.

We’ve had a new lady living at our house the past 2 weeks.  She was going through some hardships so the team thought it would be best for her to come back to HOPE to live for a bit.  Yesterday, her housemate told me that she misses my hugs (because she mainly speaks kinyarwanda).  It’s probably been a day or two since I last hugged her.  I gave her a great big hug in that moment.

 Today I was out on the lawn reading a book and the same lady came back from the market.  She deliberately walks up to me so I can embrace her.  This is God’s GOODNESS!  This lady is hard to get to smile sometimes- but she’s smiles every time I see her!  And now she doesn’t shy away from hugs but seeks them out!!! Praise GOD!!

Find ways to make yourself available.  You never know how an interaction will shift someone’s day-maybe their life!  Share God. Share love. BE LOVE!! 🙂