An Evening in Kibwezi

An Evening in Kibwezi


It is popular for a us to say, "Where there's life, there's hope."  I also believe that "Where there's hope, there's life!"  Hope is the thing that keeps us afloat when the storms of life are tossing us about.  It is the thing that helps us not just to survive, it helps us to live fully into our faith in the Resurrection, thus making our lives abundant!  We have hope that we will see a New Day when every tear is wiped away.


Our hope in our Savior Jesus – our Resurrection and our Life - can be reflected in our day-to-day lives.  The vision of our Savior calls for Resurrection living both now and for the not-yet. Thanks be to God that it is just as Paul said in his letter to the Romans (8:38-39) "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor power, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."  


I saw hope in 1988 when I ventured to Kibwezi with Burke Presbyterian Church.  I was 17 years old.  It was an opportunity to see how people on the other side of the world lived into hope from day to day, such as "Mary," a woman who invited our group over for dinner.  Having at least 10 people over for dinner is stressful for any woman who has to cook and clean and graciously welcome her visitors.  Mary had a humble house with a dirt floor.  She lugged her own firewood to her home and cooked for us all.  In retrospect, I am amazed at her energy and strength to serve us.  Her hospitality bore no signs of annoyance at us bumbling Americans.  I cannot remember what we ate for dinner, or what we talked about, but most importantly it was her show of fellowship, sweetened by the presence of God's Holy Spirit amongst us.  


Mary's hope was a gospel message.  If she had worried about how she would feed us all, I couldn't see any evidence.  I imagine she began her preparations with prayer that the evening would become just what God wanted it to be:  Harambee!  I have many other memories of times during that journey when I experienced that kind of unity, power and hope.  I draw on that evening at Mary's house like a well of refreshment each time my own faith might feel shaky.  Her act of hospitality reminds me of God's unending love for us all.  Thanks be to God for women like her who demonstrate hope in action.  In that, we may be reminded that, where there is hope, there is abundant life!