My beautiful team and I had just
finished reading a chapter of Crazy Love, by Francis Chan. We were
sitting underneath a tarp, the only shade that we had on our property
in Guija, Mozambique. I started to feel restless, so I got up and
went and grabbed a bucket and headed to the water well to wash my
feet…they badly needed it. Their was a Momma already there with her
younger daughter. They had quite a few water containers that they
were filling with water, so I stood in line behind them to fill my
bucket. Eventually she finished filling her water jugs and had them
loaded in her little wheel barrel to bring back to her hut. Her
daughter stayed behind at the well with me.
I pumped my bucket to the rim and sat
on the outside of the well. I started splashing water on my feet to
try to get some of the dirt to come off. It was unsuccessful. As I
finished washing my last foot, I felt God whispering to me to wash
this young girl’s feet. If you know me well, you know that I don’t
like feet. It is norm #9 (a rule that my team has to follow) that
there is no feet allowed near Cait. But I reluctantly asked her if I
could wash her feet. She didn’t understand what I said. Then I said
it with hand motions, more confidently. Eventually the English to
Shon-gon language barrier was broken, and she understood what I
meant.
and let me touch her feet and wash them. I had the privilege of
washing this precious child’s feet. It was a little awkward for
various reasons, but I was determined to make the best out of it, and
let her see Jesus through it. Seeing her shyly smile and wonder why
in the world this white girl is in her community, let alone on her
knees in a muddy well washing her feet, was life shifting. I can
only hope that she didn’t see this act as foolish, but as an act of
showing God’s never failing love and forgiveness.
“Preach the Gospel always, if
necessary use words.” -St. Francis of Assisi
After both of her feet were as squeaky
clean as could be, I wasn’t sure what God wanted me to do from there.
She then began to look at my watch and press all the buttons…which
is guaranteed to happen with any child under 16 in Africa. And then
she looked at my wrist on my other hand at looked at my bracelets.
She saw one bracelet that she thought she was pretty and motioned for
me to take it off. I put it on her wrist to see how it looked on her,
and she was absolutely beaming.
and if
anyone takes what belongs to you,
do not demand it back. -Luke 6:30
This verse was flashing through my head
throughout the whole bracelet ordeal, and I was feeling pleased with
myself for following what Jesus commands us all to do. Then she
started to look at my remaining bracelets, thinking they were pretty.
I tried to hide my hand because I didn’t want to give away another
bracelet. I was okay with giving away one bracelet, but giving away
more than that was just too much.
Later that night I was flipping through
my bible looking for the verse that was flashing through my mind
(Luke 6:30) earlier in the day. When I found it, my heart dropped.
The verse previous to it, verse 29, says, “If someone takes your
cloak, do not stop them from taking your tunic.” What a hypocrite I
am!!! All I can do with this is ask for forgiveness, and then ask the
Lord to change my heart. That I would want to give not only my tunic,
but my cloak…and be willing to throw in the shirt off my back too.
When I reflected on this later on
during the week, I saw symbolism. The bracelet this girl chose was an
Invisible Children bracelet, given to me by my friend Kyle who is now
in Kenya. Invisible Children is based in Uganda. But, anyway, the
symbolism is in the bracelet she chose. I can see how the children in
Guija, and in a lot of parts of Mozambique, are invisible.
to see more than half the women in your eye sight with a baby tied on
their back by kapalana, a piece of fabric. A lot of the time the baby
is hanging on for dear life because the Mother is all over the place
and the fabric isn’t doing much support. The Mother doesn’t see the
baby on her back, and therefore can’t nurture him or her. This child
is invisible.
babies out to play with their other children. So it is not common to
see a 5 year old with a 3 month old baby tied on their back. Both
children are invisible in a sense. Children in Sub-Sahara Africa are
not like children in America, or any other part of the world for that
matter. They are miniature adults. Our host hired a couple ladies to
help with the field he had on his property, and one of the ladies had
a daughter who was one and a half years old. When we weren’t holding
her, she was out in the field helping her Mom carry the dead grass
away and other things. It’s reality here. And it needs to see God’s
Kingdom come. Now.
themselves,
for the rights of all who are
destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and
needy.
-Proverbs 31:8-9
Cait, it is truly amazing reading the words that you write. The vivid words you use it makes it very easy to picture what it is like on your journey. As each day goes bye, more and more children have felt your love. It is hard to imagine the living conditions these childern live with day after day. You are giving them a little sunshine in their lifes. I am so proud of you!!
DAD
Cait you look just like you belong there. You are radiant with the presence of Jesus. Your words convict and humble my heart. Your blog is always a blessing.
When I read your blogs, I just never know what to say. You are so awesome! I’m happy for you, and I’m proud of you 🙂 You are doing wonderful things, and making people happy. Please be happy too 🙂 Keep feeling God’s love, and keep remembering that He is happy with you and is smiling at you! And I can’t believe that you went near someone else’s feet, even a cute little kid!!! That’s major!!!
I love you SO much, and I miss you terribly.