While in the village this week we visited a primary school and got the chance to play with around 600 children. One little girl, Mary, would not leave my side. She wrote her name on my hand before we left and told me she would be praying for me as I continue going to college. Two days later my team was visiting our African grandmother's house (another story) and Mary walked up to us. How she found us I have no idea, but after sharing tea with this elderly woman Mary proceeded to walk back with us to the church where we had been staying. As we walked the two of us began sharing our lives in broken English. Her story is as follows…She is 15 and repeating the 7th grade. Her father has 2 wives and 13 children; Mary is the oldest girl. With 2 brothers in secondary school he cannot afford for her to go to school anymore and tells her daily not to go. Yet, everyday she trecks down the mountain 2 or 3 km and goes to school with dreams of becoming a pilate. Most days she goes without having eaten breakfast and does not go home during her break for lunch because she says her mother will only tell her there is no food for her. After school her father beats her, yells at her, and forces her to do all the family's chores. In her own words she is a child labourer. Her father says that soon he will sell her in marriage to provide for the rest of the family, so she wanted desperaely for me to be her sponsor or take her home with me to the U.S. As graciously as I could I explained that I didn't know how to help her right then, and I tried to encourage her to remain strong and remember that God loves her. Tears poured down her face & my heart broke into a million pieces. Back at the church I shared my lunch with her and gave her 500 shillings (about $5). She have me two Maasai bracelets and I gave her mine. I prayed with her and told her to remember every time she saw my bracelet that I was praying for her. We both had tears in our eyes as we said goodbye…I will never be the same. It's the hardest thing ever to want desperately to help someone & realize you can do nothing in your own power. I had to place Mary in the Lord's hands knowing He is the only one who can protect her, provide for her, comfort her, & heal her broken heart. Nothing is impossible with God, & I trust Him though I cannot see how things are going to work together for Mary right now. I am so thankful that He put her in my path, and as Father's Day approaches I am so grateful for my loving father and family.
