A Not-So Subtle Confirmation

You know, there are times in your life that you take a step forward, perhaps hesitantly, feeling uncertain of exactly what is ahead, but somehow confident that even though it is scary, you are doing the right thing. Sometimes, you have to forge ahead, even if you feel alone, and blaze a trail. Other times, you are blessed with a gift of confirmation - something that crosses your path that reinforces that understanding you have that you are doing what you should be doing.

These last two weeks, I have been awe struck at how amazing God is! Let me explain....

Every Friday, a small group from our church serves soup to those who are in need. It was on one of these Fridays, while I was handing out clothing that I met a group of young ladies who all had young children. It was then that my dream became crystal clear.

Since meeting these ladies, my eyes were opened to how many women are in my area begging for money to feed themselves and their families. Each of them have babies tied to their backs "African style". A tight blanket, or towel binding the child tightly to their backs. Three ladies in particular have stood out to me. I pass them every day on my way to school. I began praying for them, asking God that if He would, to please bring us together.

Two weeks ago, on my way to the church, one of them came up to my window. I rolled it down, and told her that while I couldn't give her money, wouldn't she like to come down to the church - about 2 km away - and have some soup and bread. She started on her way immediately. Her warm smile when she met me at the clothing cupboard's door melted my heart. Her name is Ellen - I would guess her to be in her early 20's, and her tiny two year old daughter's name is Blessing. I asked to her please come again, that I would love to get to know her.

The next day, I was on my way to the grocery store and I saw one of the other ladies, only two blocks from my house. I took her a few grocery items, explaining that I couldn't give her money, but wouldn't she like to come and get some clothing the next week at the church? We chatted for a few minutes, and once again, I felt such a connection with this dear woman named Louisa. She comes into town from "the big city" to beg. Originally she had come with a friend hoping to find work. Her friend did, but she did not.

Wouldn't you know that on Friday, the rain came down in buckets! My doubts overflowed, like the puddles of water, and I figured that I might have missed a chance to build on my short meetings with them. As I came around the corner of the building to hand out the packets of clothing that I was greeted by both their smiling faces. And while they had been waiting for me, they had gotten to know each other. I was able to briefly explain my hopes to offer them classes, if they were willing. And it was to my joy that as I drove home, I spotted them, and their kids, walking together back to their taxi rank, chatting like friends.

You would think that this alone would give me that 100% confirmation that this is IT. But it didn't stop there! I thank God that, He in His great provision, has raised up a growing group of people who are standing beside me in this, offering support, supplies and prayers, most importantly. Wow! That is such an encouragement!

But it still doesn't stop there!....

Tonight, while I was in the kitchen, my husband asked "is that lady's name that you met Alice?" I came around the corner to see David reading the newspaper. Inside the front page was an article titled "Welfare of 'begging babes' is a concern" On it is pictured one of the ladies I have seen, but not met yet. Her name is Alice and she has a 16 month old girl. She says in the article that she comes out from quite a distance to beg just a block away from my home, just to make 50.00 Rand a day- enough to feed herself, so she can nurse her baby. 50 Rand is $7.17. It doesn't buy too much. And she still has to pay for her transportation back to her home - which can easily cost R30.00. When asked why she carries her child out on the street and puts her in potential harms way, her response was "If she gets run over or hurt, I know it is my fault, but who do I blame if my baby is raped while her mommy was looking for work?" Social services is asking the public to report these women, so intervention can be made - and earlier in the article they state that the welfare of the child would be better if the child was removed from the parent's care.

THIS is confirmation! It isn't too far a stretch for me to realize that I could have been one of these ladies. Life is so hard, and circumstances can make it even harder. AIDS, a very high unemployment rate and many other factors make being a mother a difficult job. These ladies are doing what ever they can just to survive. And they are struggling to find hope in this world.

Please won't you join this effort by praying for these women and their children? Pray for others to join in and to volunteer their time so that we can reach more. There IS hope, and there is a way that they can learn to provide for their families. They just need a helping hand. Pray for open hearts, so that it isn't just a skill that they learn, but rather that they find hope beyond their circumstances - the hope that is only found in having a real tangible relationship with Jesus.

Tomorrow I have another Zulu lesson at the library. I want to find out a very specific translation. I want to know what the Zulu words are for "Beautiful Creation". This should be the name of this outreach. Not only will the women who join be involved in making "beautiful creations", but they are going to learn that they are beautiful creations. Check back here soon to see what our name will be!