Trust In The Wait

As I’ve been becoming a bit more familiar with the country and language, I’ve been able to take some other means of transport. Of course, I have my trusty friends to take me to the bus stops and pick me up, but it’s a feat to do these things.

The latest has been a matatu.  I was only going a short distance (3 hours) so I didn’t have to change vehicles (thankfully).  

Sometimes upon arrival to my destination, due to traffic, public transport, and other things, I have a little bit of time to wait. 

Yesterday, when I arrived back in Nairobi, there was a wait until my friend showed up. But I truly trust and believe this was God ordained. 

First, the matatu did not drop me where I thought it was going to drop me off (or where my friend thought it was going to drop me). The driver was like… “This is the time to alight”. And I just looked at the area… this is not where I boarded it… But, I recognized the location from 2019, when we traveled from Uganda to Kenya.  It’s still the middle of Nairobi with just me, but I had peace. 

I took my big bag and sat it down in front of a booking office.  I called my friend  again and he said he was still on his way.  To wait. He’ll be there soon.  I then received a call from his brother too… checking on me and making sure I was okay. They both had told me maybe I should go find a place to take tea and wait.  

By this point, I was sitting on my big bag, waiting and I had started a conversation with this woman selling masks and candy.  She spoke English and was friendly… and I felt at peace in a place where I was a bit “lost”.  I told my friends I was safe and I was okay. After that, a man came up and bought me a piece of chocolate from the stand.  God saw me. I’ve been wanting some chocolate for a while now….  It’s the little things that let you know “I’m ok.” 

But back to the woman.  Her name is Beatrice.  She asked me my name and where I’m from, and just like that, we hit it off.  She reminded me of one of the ladies from Rwanda who just had a lot of joy.  

I proceeded to tell her I’m from America, was just in Makueni, and now will be in Nairobi for 2 weeks until I head to Uganda. This of course led to telling her about my mission work.  

I proceeded to ask her questions too… and found out she loves the Lord and He is her rock, her fortress, and her strength.  Can I get an AMEN?!  

I proceeded to ask about her family.  She is married and has 5 kids. The last born are twins, now 8 years old.  The two in the middle are 12 and 15. The first born is 19 and hoping to one day go for nursing if the family can raise enough funds. They are trusting and believing.

I asked about her business… I asked about COVID and the impact. Her husband lost his “secure” job in the industry business last year after COVID hit. Both of them are now selling masks and candy on the street.  They are trying to support their kids.  Unfortunately, one child is at home right now because school fees could not be sustained (and here, when that happens, you get sent home from school—most schools are boarding schools— and you cannot return until you have your fees).  But, I could still see the joy of the Lord shinning through.  

We sat for a bit, and I knew I just had to pray with her. So we prayed. We prayed for health and finances and that she would be a light to all the people that buy from her. At the end, she looked at me with tears in her eyes, “You’ve been an angel sent to me today”.  

Praise God that He sees us, knows us intimately, hears us, and sends people in our paths right at a time of need.  

I had put a certain amount of money in pocket earlier on my ride… and I knew this was meant for her. As my friend arrived, I told him to pick some candy and I handed her the money.  “No change, please.”  

From our talks earlier, this amount was a little over what she would make in a typical day selling her items.  Jehovah Jireh.  

 Please be praying for Beatrice and all the people living day to day by selling things on the streets. Pray for their kids—that school fees would not keep them from an education, a tool that bridges the gap of poverty.  

 “Trust [confidently] in the LORD forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], For the LORD GOD is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].”

Isaiah 26:4 AMP

We trust in something because it is consistently reliable…. God is consistently reliable. He keeps His promises. He sees us. He knows us. 

What Beatrice didn’t know… she was actually my angel today too