your hospitality was incredible. your smiles showed me Jesus. your children loved me and didn't let go of my hand. your kindness shouted "how are you?" around every corner. your weary faces lit up at "hello!" or "jambo!".
for years i wanted to meet someone like you. for years God had been preparing me for the hours we spent together. i have worn this white rubber bracelet for a few years that stands for one billion people that live on less than one dollar per day. you introduced me to at least 100,000 of them. you showed me how they make their dollars selling coal and candy or shining shoes.
you wrecked my heart, making me yearn for more time with your people. you wrecked my comfort, i think of you every time it rains and i picture the water carrying sewage and human waste into your houses. you wrecked my spending habits, my old line "it's only a dollar" now turns my stomach from spending your day's living on a bag of candy. you wrecked my comfort in reading books about you and telling others how much Jesus cares about the poor, you've moved me to a new level of action.
you kept a piece of me, i think brenda holds it in her hand. i pray often that brenda would not just remember a "mzungu" who once came to your neighborhood and held her hand, but that somehow in God's mysterious way she would remember holding hands with Jesus and that she would feel his hand every day of her life.
you grew my faith by the way pastor sammy started nearly every sentence with "i'm trusting God to...". nearly every day i am reminded to trust God the way i saw through sammy and his team.
i will never forget the hours i spent on your paths, and i will never forget the faces you introduced me to. i will never forget the hope of your people, and i will never lose compassion for your heartaches.
wrecked,
stephanie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibera
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