Broken and Redeemed

Let the little children come to Him!

Sophia, my sweet friend from the slum.

"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40

How is God changing me? What is God teaching me? Be the fragrance of Jesus. Spread it wherever you go. Show the radiance of Jesus. Let Him shine through you so that everyone you come in contact with may feel His presence in your soul. Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without feeling better and happier. Be the loving expression of God's kindness. The kindness on your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile and kindness in your very soul.




When we visit the slums I remember that we are shining the light of God's kindness to the poor. We are sharing the fragrance of Him with all that cross our path. This is why the people are attracted to us, drawn to us. They feel the love of God. It pours out of us, from our very souls into them. So when I keep this in mind the fear fades away and I am able to share God's kindness to those who cross my path. To the young boys who shake my hand and to the babies wandering on the dirty streets. To all I come in contact with. I always give them a happy smile, a loving embrace, a caring word but above all I give them my heart. God has called us to call in the outcasts, go into the dark corners of the world, to leave our place of comfort and call on the broken. When we are able to be passionate and filled with the love of Him we will be part of His plan, His miracles.


Today was one of those such special miracles. I did not know what God's plan may be this particular day but I promised to be the hands and feet, the very fragrance of Him. Because of this I became part of a miracle He had so orchestrated through His love and His timing. As His will is carried out I am overwhelmed with gratitude.


This special miracle involves a boy from the slum named Shaviek. The story is an amazing testimony of how God works to perform miracles. It was Wednesday, the day we scheduled to go to the Ksinne slum this week. I've experienced the slums now several times and know what to expect. There are dangers lurking around every corner there. When we, white people, arrive in the slum the people there see money. So because of that we can be bombarded by people asking for money, food etc. I have to be very careful to hang on tightly to my backpack. The young boys are the ones who especially bombard us taking our hands or arms and begging for help. This day was different. The first boy who approached us today was a 12 year old boy named Shaviek. He shook our hands but did not ask for anything. As I looked into his eyes I saw a scared, desperate boy. He was very dirty, no shoes, torn clothes and seemed to be malnourished. He followed us asking for nothing, just craving the fragrance of Jesus that he could feel coming from us. We sat on the porch of a shack of some people we know there. The Ugandan lady who works with us started asking Shaviek his story. He told her his parents are both dead. His other family members took him to the slum and left him because they couldn't care for him. He sleeps in a coal bag, which is very dangerous because many times the bags are set on fire while the child is sleeping and the child is burned to death. Shaviek fights to survive during the day. You see because he is so small and malnourished the other boys in the slum pick on him and beat him up. Especially if he is given money,food or clothing. So he hides most of the time. He told us that he walks to church, in his bare filthy feet, every Sunday to worship God. He looks forward to that day knowing he will be in a safe place, a happy place. He said he prays everyday for God to send him a miracle. Someone that can help him. Someone that will love him. Well, guess what, God sent us! His miracle!! After talking with Shaviek for awhile and learning about him we all knew that we needed to help him. So we walked with him to the nearest cafe. I bought him a big plate of food and a soda. I hadn't seen a smile from him until they brought out the food. He said "for me?" "Yes Shaviek this is for you. Please eat until you are full." I said. Shaviek ate almost every bite. We decided to call the leader of the organization Raising Up Hope. This is an Ugandan Christian organization that helps orphaned children in the slums just like Shaviek. They give them a home to live in, and with help from sponsors, provide the opportunity to go to school. We asked the founder if he would meet us at the cafe to meet Shaviek. He agreed because he was already in the area. When the founder of Raising Up Hope met him he also knew he was special, different and that he should help him. Shaviek's prayers were answered! He was taken that day to his new home, introduced to his new brothers and sisters and was given a bed to sleep in and food to eat every day. We asked if there was anything else we could do to help Shaviek. He said it would be very helpful if we could buy him some shoes and clothing as he has none. So I emailed my friend Laura to let her know about the situation and asked if she would like to raise some money to help Shaviek. The next day she put money in my account. God is so faithful! So, on Friday we met Raising Up Hope at the market to buy Shaviek all the clothing and shoes he needed. After we were finished shopping for Shaviek I gave more money to help with medical expenses and to help with sending him to school. The Founder of Raising Up Hope was so happy and said Shaviek will be so thankful. I will go visit Shaviek in his new home in a couple weeks to see how he is doing. I will post new pictures of Shaviek so you can see him as he is now. A new happy healthy boy. He told us while he was eating at the cafe that he wanted to be a teacher so he could teach children in the slums to read and write. He also said that children need to be educated so they can live a life full of God with much opportunity. He is a special boy! What a miracle God performed. It was such an amazing feeling to actually be part of His wonderful plan. I believe I was able to help plant the seed in Shaviek. God will be the one to continue to make it grow. I hope I can only know of his successes in the future but if I don't I know he will be very successful with God behind him.


Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments... are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Romans 13:8-9