One of our co-workers got a call from her husband 2 weeks ago saying he arrived home to find their home had been broken into and EVERYTHiNG that wasn’t nailed down or too big to be taken quickly, was gone. Beds and mattresses were still there but the mattresses had been slashed open, bedding gone. Houses, even expensive ones, are basic walls, not built with closets. So our workers store their clothing, dishes, kitchen supplies in old suitcases we gave them over the years. They, too, had been taken so no one had any clothes or whatnots but what was on their backs! 6 children and 2 adults, how do they cope?
But I am not done yet. A few days later she was waiting for a bus/taxi at the place where EVERYONE waits to go up to the areas most inhabited by houses. Its people shoulder to shoulder and there are thieves everywhere slashing purse straps, etc., to steal whatever they can. A dangerous place that we stay away from but they have no choice. So she was standing shoulder to people she didn’t know waiting for her turn to be squeezed into an overflowing bus/van. She noticed movement slightly behind her.. A man with a knife and black covid mask was cutting the ladies Kikwembe (wrap around skirt fabric) to get to where her money was likely stashed rolled up in her waist area. He saw her look at him and silently showed her to keep quiet with his finger over mouth area. That means “don’t say anything or I will use my knife on YOU.”
But the same dear friend/co-worker is a strong and courageous person. She was prepared. Last year Brenda gave all workers (us, too) a can of Mace. It was already in her hand as she had stood there and she used it on him, spraying his eyes. You can imagine what happened. He struggled violently until he fell into the filthy wet gutter while others around them wondered what was going on, probably feeling the Mace too. But it is unknown here. She just walked away and the lady, too, whose money and probably life was saved!
This week arrived without fanfare. But only for a short time. We heard there was a fire in her neighborhood. Again her husband called to say it was close and he and the neighbors were using all the water and liquids they could find to fight the fires, while hopefully keeping their own homes safe as well. There are no fire engines or fire fighters, and fires do happen frequently. I’m not sure how it was stopped but in the end there were 9 homes utterly destroyed, ending at the very next house from hers. That means it had been less than 6 ft away! We do thank the Lord for that!
Now what? Am I done? No. Because she and her husband are Christians and believe in helping others, they invited 2 of the burned out families to stay with them while they all figure out what to do next, giving them at least a roof over their heads. There are now 19 people staying there and she and her daughters are scrambling to find enough food to feed them all. They sleep on cement floors using whatever they have been given to cover themselves during the cold nights.
Fortunately, she can wear my clothes so I gave her a bunch of them. Ray gave her boys and husband shirts – see photo – plus Brenda, Ray and I have given sheets, pans, anything that we have that they can use, and of course money for food, as much as we are able.
That is just one story of things that go on here. Of course, we cannot help everyone. But for this precious friend and co-worker who does so much for us, we want to do all we can.
Under His Wings, Jayn for the Harkemas
Heart for Central Africa/Building Bukavu
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“And the King will answer and say to them,’Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’