I remember the day well. Luke and I were at Lusa teaching a Bible study and nutrition lesson to
members of the community. The rain
started coming so violently that our voices couldn't be heard over the pounding
on the aluminum roof. So we sat, waiting
out the storm. As we yelled to each
other occasional thoughts or questions and cooked some pumpkin seeds over a
brazier (as we had just taught on their nutritional value), we began to wonder
where Mama Yoba was. I walked to the
front veranda as lightning struck somewhere nearby, to find her mopping the
veranda, catching buckets of rain water, tirelessly working to take advantage
of the “free water” – all while singing a song.
Merry Christmas everyone!
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I asked her what she was singing and she told me it was a
song she learned in grade one at a private school in Lusaka. She went on to tell me that she didn't stay
at that school because she was diagnosed with Type I (Juvenile Onset) diabetes
at a very young age. Her father didn't
think she would live long, so he decided to not “waste money” paying her school
fees.
But she’s outlived most of her family, managing her diabetes
through diet and the occasional trip to the clinic to have her blood sugar
checked - and she still going strong (though her blood pressure shoots up any
time she gets stressed).
So she has spent her entire life trying to give others a
chance, people who've otherwise been written off as hopeless, useless, “too
sick,” “too poor,” and so on. She defied
the odds and knows that sometimes those who have to prove themselves in life
are the ones who go the farthest. There’s
a saying in Zambia that says “those who go alone go fast, but those who go
together go far.” She dedicates herself to helping others go far.
Many nights she doesn't sleep, delivering babies in the
community, making jewelry to sell to help fund Lusa, or worrying about her
family and community members. Lately,
she’s been worried about her house caving in while she’s asleep.
You see, Mama Yoba has been building a new house for more
than 20 years. Many times when she had a
bit of money or a stack of bricks ready to use, someone would come and ask for
assistance: pastors needing bricks for their homes, friends needing money for
medicine or funerals, or even repairs needing done at Lusa that in her mind,
were more important than her own house. She’s a firm believer that when a man asks you for your tunic, you give
your cloak as well.
And through all this, you would think the community would
absolutely adore her, but on the
contrary, many talk about her because of some unfortunate circumstances that
happened regarding an outside organization helping at Lusa a few years
ago. Many only come to her when they’re
in need, and often do so demanding her help. When her husband died, his family
came and ransacked her house for her belongings (which is a fairly common occurrence
here). She’s even been taken to court for “Satanism” and when the judge ruled
that she clearly was not in the wrong and suggested she sue them for
defamation, she stood firm on her beliefs and simply “turned the other cheek.”
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| Mama Yoba and Regina making jewelry in their current home (taken in 2011) |
Don’t get me wrong – sometimes Mama Yoba is downright
stubborn. But overall she is one of the
most giving, selfless, strong individuals I know. And we hate the idea that every time it
storms, there's a chance her house could collapse.
But her new house is almost done. Luke and I have really encouraged,
challenged, donated, and even pushed her to finish this year. Bit by bit, brick
by brick, she’s getting there. And when
I went last week, she was down to countable needs – a few sheets of glass and
putty, wiring, a few pockets of cement….
Enter story number two (I realize this is getting long…). Our involvement with the expat community has
often provided great benefit to Mama Yoba and the children and benefactors of
Lusa. We often take them carloads of
gently used clothing and toys from friends at the mine – bringing such joy and
meeting great needs. Our friends are
glad to donate to a worthy cause and we’re glad to create a bridge between two
very different communities. Rarely,
though, do the two worlds actually connect (with the exception of craft markets
where Mama Yoba and Regina and I sell the jewelry).
But this Christmas, our friends at the mine wanted to teach
their children about giving. This week the kids and their parents got together
and put together 100 sachets of candies, pencils and small toys to give to
children in the community. And we knew
of no better place to distribute these special gifts than at Lusa. So as the emails have gone out inviting
participants to come out to Kimasala on Christmas Eve and I've made the
arrangements with Mama Yoba, we asked our friends if they would be willing to
help Mama Yoba finish her house. And the response has been amazing. Emails went out beyond our church community
and donations are coming from people we've never met. Tomorrow after church we are collecting
several hundred dollars worth of kwacha, to present to Mama Yoba, who thinks
that we’re coming purely to the benefit of the children.
And I feel like the greatest Christmas blessing for us,
aside from the birth of our Savior of course, will be having the opportunity to
bless Mama Yoba and Regina, our special friends and amazing examples of generosity and
humility, in this awesome way.
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| Selling Lusa jewelry at a craft market at the local mine |
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