Helping Widows

The team is actually on their way home right now but we still have some stories to share on the blog. One of those stories is about Sarah (Pastor Robert's wife) and her outreach to the community of Bukeeka. Sarah reaches out to anyone in need - Muslim, Christian, traditional belief, widow, child, father, it doesn't matter. Today, she took us with her as she visited a grandmother who life situation wasn't good. Typical of many grandmothers, this one was trying to raise grandchildren that had been left with her by her children. Sometimes parents die and leave their children with the grandparents other times the parents just leave the children and walk away to find a better life elsewhere. No matter the situation, these grandmothers are some of the toughest and strongest faith people I've ever met. Most often than not they do not have anything to support themselves or the children. Today was no different.

The team arrived at the small brick hut and greeted their first widow. She was incredible poor. The team had brought two mattresses as potential gifts and soon realized they would definately leave one here. The grandmother and grandchild had nothing more than a hoe, some clothes, and the brick hut to sleep in. They laid clothes on the dirt floor for their bed - they didn't even have a mat. The grandmother was welcoming to Sarah and surprised but happy that white people had come to visit her. After giving her the mattress, that she would share, she apologized to the team for not having anything to give them. Incredible. One of our ladies began crying.

Sarah shared with the team how she goes out to people's houses and blesses them with gifts whenever she can. One widow, a non-Christian, was one of the recipients of Sarah's visits. Sarah gave her gifts and never mentioned Jesus or tried to convert her. She simply loved the women and helped her out. After about the third visit and gifts, the women finally asked Sarah why she was helping. Sarah explained and the widow finally said she would like to have Jesus in her life as well. Sometimes actions sometimes speak louder than words. Enjoy the photos and may the Lord bless all the widows in the world, John