Life....

Though I've lived in Africa for almost 20 years, I am still struck, at times, by how raw and difficult life here can be. Last night I continued teaching transformational development at a local church. This church is located in an incredibly poor, crowded, and under-served part of the city. Their little building is smack in the middle of crowded housing. The floor is dirt, though they do have a metal roof, which is quite a feat. Raw sewage runs down the dirt paths, piles of garbage are everywhere. In the midst of this there is wall to wall people - children running around and playing, often barefoot (think of the raw sewage and garbage here), men sit in groups and talk, women are cooking and selling......my STL truck can barely make it down the road due to the road conditions, the narrowness of the path and all the little tables set up with various things to sell - soap, tomato paste, sardines, phone unit cards, etc.

As I'm teaching there are rats running around on the wooden beams above my head. The air is thick with mosquitos - when I look at my interpreter (they asked me to teach in French and he interprets into Lingala) I see clouds of mosquitoes swarming around his head and I can imagine that they're around mine as well. When the lights go out (which is most of the time) people turn on their phones so they can see to take notes. At one point I stood in total darkness - I couldn't see my hand in front of my face - yet I kept teaching because they were hungry for more.

I'm teaching on local church based development - the church being involved in holistic, transformational ministry; meaning that they intentionally develop ministries that touch all aspects of the community - physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually. It's a basic principle and one that has been proven time and time again - in both the religious and the secular communities. It's the promotion of small acts and education that can make huge changes in health - hand washing, wearing shoes, mosquito nets, clean water - and while promoting these actions the church talks about God's love for us, His desire for us to be healthy, His plan for our lives. I know it works - I've seen it work! But last night I felt overwhelmed for them. I've taught in villages and rural areas, I've taught in smaller cities. But nothing compares to the squalor, dirt, and sanitation issues of crowded, mega-urban areas. Last night the reality of life here just felt raw.

Today I had scheduled a pedicure. I have a lovely young mother (3 children - the youngest being 2 months old) who comes once or twice a month and helps me keep my cracked and dry feet in decent shape. I've known her for almost 3 years now. She is a friend. She texted me a couple of hours before our appointment to say that she couldn't make it today.......her husband died Saturday evening. I was stunned. I have no idea how he died - he hadn't been sick. I'm thinking a car accident? I keep thinking of what this means for her - a widow in her early 30's, 3 young children, and living in a culture where the wife is automatically blamed for the husband's death - no matter how he died. I wonder what she is going through right now?? Does she have in-laws who have decided to be nice to her? Or less than 72 hours after his sudden death is she already having to fight to keep her house and possessions?

Life here is raw.........What would we do without the hope that we have in Christ? Please pray for my friend......her name is YuYu.