Memorable Conversation

I had a very memorable conversation today that I do not think will leave my mind easily. Laury, Cassi (our volunteer for the month of July), and I took a trip to TY because Laury needed to pick up a tapestry she had asked for from the weavers. There is a specific weaver shop that we like to visit and take teams and volunteers to. Our friends Vern, Mary, Vern and Dianne introduced us to the shop a little over a year ago and Laury especially enjoys visiting the women and seeing the new things they have created since her last visit.


Today, it was much different than all my previous visits. There were less tapestries being worked on and mostly only small tapestries for sale today. The woman who runs the shop was so delighted to see us the she came running outside to greet us. We have talked with her several times in the past and she recognized us. As we went inside the shop and Laury asked for the piece she had ordered, the woman began to praise God. She said that the shop is failing and not getting enough business and is afraid they will have to close soon. She said that she has been going to bed hungry as she has not had enough papa/millie meal to eat.

She has never spoken like this before and I saw the sincerity on her face and from the sparseness of the shop, it appeared that things are not going well. She told us that the only things she needs are papa, tea and sugar and then she is happy and praising God and she thanked us for the items we purchased. I was not able to buy much, only a few small wallets for my kids and 2 nieces, but the gratitude she showed was so genuine.

As we were driving home I began to think…if I were to only get papa, tea and sugar as my daily diet, would I be happy and would I be praising God? I am considering taking a week and trying it because I have been living here for a year and a half and yet I still continue to forget sometimes how difficult life is for those living outside of Beautiful Gate. Obviously, I think of Lucky often, but I forget that people like him are the majority and not the minority.

What do you eat each day? Are you like me with multiple options for breakfast, lunch and dinner? And when you eat a meal, does your heart rejoice with thanksgiving to God for yet another day of not going hungry? I guess those are some of the questions going through my mind about my own life and why her conversation with me is so memorable and maybe it will be memorable for you as well.