We have 3 grocery stores in town. I (Andrew) usually prefer the one right on the edge of town because there are less people, which means shorter lines. I can get in and get out. Yolanda prefers the one in the center of town because there is a wider selection of products, but sometimes you wait in line to check out longer than you were collecting the items in the cart. A couple weeks ago, Yolanda was going to the store and I suggested she go to my preferred store because I had recently been there and was able to use my credit card (we now decide where to shop, based on which stores take card and which ones only take cash). I even told her not to bother to take cash because you won't need it. She went to the store, asked the manager if the card machine was working. He said it was, so she walked up and down the aisles, putting items in the cart, waited in line, got to the front, gave the person her card, and the machine didn't work. Since I had told her that she didn't need cash, she didn't have any way to pay. The prospects of having to leave to go to another store and fill another cart with the same items she had just spent lots of time doing at the first store made her a tad less than happy. But, she got in the car and drove to the grocery store in the middle of town. That was God's plan.
Yolanda parked the car, got out, and was greeted by a young boy, who looked to be 8-10 years old. He asked if she would be willing to buy him a couple notebooks for school. She said that she would and asked him to wait there until she came back. So Yolanda started doing her shopping, turned around, and the boy was standing there silently, but as if to say, "Don't forget about me." She added his notebooks to her cart and she kept going. When she was finished she got in line and the boy showed up next to her again, but this time holding up a ruler, pencils, and erasers, asking if she could buy these as well. She said that instead of these, she had some supplies at her house that she could give him (we still have back to school packs left over from last year's VBS that we will hand out at this year's). He had very limited English and Yolanda was struggling to tell him why he needed to put the items back. He looked sad, but obediently returned the few items.
Once Yolanda was done shopping, she handed the boy his books. At this point she was still contemplating how exactly she would get the other school supplies to him. If she told him to wait he may not believe her and leave, but if she took him with him would that be safe (we have road blocks between town and our home and there could be questions as to why he's in her car). Long story short, Yolanda ended up bringing him to our gate and I met them with a back to school pack and paper and plastic to cover his books. When he saw this his face lit up. I've never before seen a child be so happy to receive school supplies. He told us, "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Yolanda said, "Thank Jesus." Yolanda took him back to where she found him and he thanked her again and said, "May God bless you." Yolanda didn't get his name or age, partially because she was struggling to communicate with him and understand him.
Once Yolanda was done shopping, she handed the boy his books. At this point she was still contemplating how exactly she would get the other school supplies to him. If she told him to wait he may not believe her and leave, but if she took him with him would that be safe (we have road blocks between town and our home and there could be questions as to why he's in her car). Long story short, Yolanda ended up bringing him to our gate and I met them with a back to school pack and paper and plastic to cover his books. When he saw this his face lit up. I've never before seen a child be so happy to receive school supplies. He told us, "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Yolanda said, "Thank Jesus." Yolanda took him back to where she found him and he thanked her again and said, "May God bless you." Yolanda didn't get his name or age, partially because she was struggling to communicate with him and understand him.
The following week, there was a knock at our gate. Western told us there was a small person looking for us (not sure why he didn't just say child :-) The young boy was standing at the gate. This time I (Andrew) went out and greeted him, but clearly could communicate with him even less than Yolanda. I took him a snack and drink and sent him on his way.
Then just a few days ago, he showed up at our gate again, but this time with 2 more boys. Yolanda joined me as we visited with them for a bit. Of course we gave them some fruit, cookies, and juice as well. This time we found out that his name is Rugare, which means "peace" (A Shona mother gives a baby a name based on what she is feeling during her pregnancy). He also told us that he is 15 years old. At first we thought we misunderstood and Yolanda asked him again in Shona how old he was, and again he said he was 15. It was obvious that he was receiving very little nutrition since we mistook this 15 year old for an 8-10 year old.
Then just a few days ago, he showed up at our gate again, but this time with 2 more boys. Yolanda joined me as we visited with them for a bit. Of course we gave them some fruit, cookies, and juice as well. This time we found out that his name is Rugare, which means "peace" (A Shona mother gives a baby a name based on what she is feeling during her pregnancy). He also told us that he is 15 years old. At first we thought we misunderstood and Yolanda asked him again in Shona how old he was, and again he said he was 15. It was obvious that he was receiving very little nutrition since we mistook this 15 year old for an 8-10 year old.
We were also able to find out that he lives in the high density area, a few miles farther than where the ladies meet for our sewing/crochet groups and women's gatherings. It would have been quite the walk for these boys since we lived on one end of town and they lived the complete opposite end. Just like the previous two times, Rugare was carrying a badza (hoe) with him, which he uses to work in a garden or field. We also found out that the reason he's always carrying his badza is because after a full day of school he walks around town looking for work and sometimes tills peoples fields or gardens. Often one can see crops and vegetables right beside the paved road, as folks have made gardens for themselves. We found out that the 2 boys accompanying him were his brothers. His two brothers, Jacob (13) and David (12) also had badzas but their's were hand made from some sort of metal. They had been working a job after school and stopped on the way home (even though our house is not on their way home). As they ate their snacks we asked them if they knew that their names were from the Bible, and they said yes. Yolanda asked them if they knew the stories of David and Jacob. Again, they nodded. She asked them to tell her, but immediately David said to Jacob, in Shona, "You know I can't speak good English." To which Jacob responded, "This one understands Shona, go ahead and tell her the story." He shyly smiled, probably not believing his brother that this white woman would understand anything he said. Anyway, he went on to say that, David was a good man and that he was a king. Then his brother said, "And Jacob was also a good man. He was a brother. He did not have lots of hair." Their statements were brief but I complimented them on their knowledge.
Of course we also gave Jacob and David back to school packs. It was also hard to believe that these brothers were 12 and 13 years old. Rugare told us how him and Jacob were both in grade 7 and David was in grade 6. Obviously Rugare started school late, most likely due to finances, and his younger brothers caught up with him. They all told us thank you for the snacks, but in addition to that, they began to till the soil around flowers that we have by the driveway. They were trying to repay us for what we gave them. Very sweet.
After they left, Yolanda and I wondered how many children Rugare might bring with him the next time. We are all about creating self-sustainability, not dependability. But how does that work with kids? What happens when you want to teach them how to fish, but they don't have access to any water in which to fish, and you have lots of fish of your own?
Of course we also gave Jacob and David back to school packs. It was also hard to believe that these brothers were 12 and 13 years old. Rugare told us how him and Jacob were both in grade 7 and David was in grade 6. Obviously Rugare started school late, most likely due to finances, and his younger brothers caught up with him. They all told us thank you for the snacks, but in addition to that, they began to till the soil around flowers that we have by the driveway. They were trying to repay us for what we gave them. Very sweet.
After they left, Yolanda and I wondered how many children Rugare might bring with him the next time. We are all about creating self-sustainability, not dependability. But how does that work with kids? What happens when you want to teach them how to fish, but they don't have access to any water in which to fish, and you have lots of fish of your own?
 |  |
RSS Feed