Saturday was my day off from working at the baby’s home so naturally I slept in and then I went to a pool down the street with one of my housemates. After that, I went to explore the city. I walked up and down a lot of the busy city streets to get a feel for the culture here. Cars and boda boda’s (mopeds) weave in and out of traffic and honk their horns nonstop, people walk right up to the car windows to sell things, taxi drivers constantly pull up to you and try to get you to ride in their car, and little kids (we are talking between 2 and 12) are laying on the streets everywhere begging for money. It seems everyone wants something from you. Parts of the city are pretty developed but other parts have shacks lined up side by side with families sitting in the dirt outside going about their everyday lives and trying to get you to come into their shops. After exploring, I hit up an Internet café called Java, which is very modern. I go there when I need to feel at home because it is where all of the white people hang out :)
On my way home from the babies home the other night I got stuck in traffic for an hour with our cab driver Joel so I started chatting him up about his life. He was telling me that the only time he has ever been out of the country was to go to Kenya when he drove there and back. He has been driving a cab for 7 years and hopes to one day own his own cab company but it is expensive to buy cars here. Very few people here have their own cars but somehow traffic is ridiculous. As my stomach growled for food (a reoccurring event here), I asked him if he was going to go home and cook dinner and he told me that his girlfriend usually cooks him dinner. This led to me explaining to him that since I am a girl, I need to know every detail. When I asked if he was going to marry her he told me it was too expensive and a wedding just had to wait. I have found myself several times wanting to give the people here anything and everything I have but am constantly reminded that I might have worldly possessions but the people here have so much more. Joel is so content with his life and is happy with what he has been given. It didn’t take me long to realize that I am the poor one after all because I put my worth into things that are temporary.
Ok, Ali. I totally understand your point about your cab driver being content with what he has and therefore rich, and I do understand how we who are so advantaged with material things CAN be poor in the things that matter. Absolutely true. BUT.....if your last comment were totally true - that you base your worth on things that are temporary - you would not be serving others in the way that you are. You are in Africa serving those babies because you know you can make a difference for eternity. No doubt the Lord will teach and convict you (and us) molding us into His character, but I want you to know how much I admire your choice to go and show Jesus's love to people who could never imagine how you live in your country, You didn't HAVE to do it, but you chose it. Our prayers are with you for your safety AND your effectiveness in whatever ways God chooses to use you. Bless you. Love, Nancy and Mark
ReplyDeleteThe photo of you and the sleeping babe is precious!
ReplyDeleteahhh Ali this is wonderful!! You look like you are in heaven with those sweet babies!!! Praying for you every single day (sometimes even more :)) love you sweet girl.
ReplyDeleteDear Ali,
ReplyDeleteYour posts and photos have made me smile and cry and wonder and thankful and see God's hand in your life. Can't wait to hear more of how He will use you for His good and wise and loving purposes.
Praying for you. Love Aunt Carol