The Rest of the Story

For those of you who are new to this story you need to first read last week's blog to get the first part of the story. If you have already read it then here you go:

I want you to go back about 7 weeks from where I left off last time. Winnie’s husband was leaving for the village to visit family. He left on a Monday leaving 5,000 shillings which is about $2.50. He stated he would return in 3 days. Frugally, people here live on about 5,000 shillings a day for food, and other supplies. This was to last her 3 days for 4 children and herself. She decided she had nothing to do but to put her trust in God. She prayed and ask Him to provide a way to sustain. The first day, which remember was Monday, she went to the market and bought coal to cook with, and a meager amount of food. She was left with 1,500 shillings for the next day. Tuesday she spent the rest of the money and had an undersized amount of food left for Wednesday. That afternoon she heard from a mutual friend that we were looking for someone to do the hand washing laundry and the cooking for lunch. Her friend highly recommended her and we asked her to come to our house so we could meet her. We were unaware of her desperate need and hunger, and she did not voice it but wanted to wait on God to provide in His timing. We decided we would see if she would be a good fit for our family. She came Thursday, not a minute late, but rather early, eager to work and to serve. When the day was complete we gave her the days wages. With these wages she was able to buy food for her family for the night and for day to come. She thanked God for His faithfulness. We really liked her and asked her to come back on Friday. After doing so we paid her the days wages and asked her if she would accept a job with us. She gratefully said yes, and was overjoyed at how God had again provided. She was able to buy the basics including water for her family for the weekend.

Meanwhile sitting in our kitchen was something that started becoming heinous.....moldy beans. It is a long story as to how we ended up with them, but to make a long story short we were naively scammed into purchasing them not knowing they were partially moldy. We were striving to save money by buying them in bulk......100 pounds. After reaching about half way through the bag a wondering continued and we asked ourselves, why we were enduring eating the rest of the bag. We ate them every day for dinner, and everyday just looking at them brought more dread. The motivation that people around us were hungry kept the fork going to the mouth. The breaking point finally came that same Friday that Winnie had just started working with the us. We felt we could lift our guilt of throwing them away and instead offer them to others who needed them, and would even be thankful at the chance to even be able to eat. We asked Winnie if she thought someone in need could use them or if we should just throw them away. She reassured us that it would not be a problem to give them away and with that we told her that she could take some if she wanted. She didn’t say anything but just gave a great big smile and a thanks. I thought, she is sure happy over something egregious.

Because of different circumstances her husband was not able to return for 3 weeks. I am not sure what she would have done with just 5,000 shillings for 3 weeks but God had it all in His hands.

Listening to this story in light of the scripture mentioned last week has deepened my faith. It not only comes from this story but from the many things God has been rousing in my heart through assorted circumstances.

May we never forget:

For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

And now you know the rest of the story.....

May God Be Glorified,
Michaela