One thing that I have not been able to forget, was when we were at Busia to visit an orphanage, the widows there were always laughing even when things were serious. All of the widows living at the orphanage were HIV positive, they knew they didn’t have very long to live. When they were asked what is their dream for life, they said “To make sure these orphans have a future, a chance to succeed.” These widows all refused ‘wife inheretence’ (After the husband dies the wife must marry his brother and have children in the deceased husband’s name) and the result of their refusal led to them being chase away from their own home, by their own families. They all said that they knew the didn’t have very long to live, but they said, while laughing, that they will give all they can to the orphans there. Only once did the true emotions show when one woman was telling her story of being chased away by her own father, her laughter faded and she started to cry. I am amazed by their strength to endure and their faith in God. I wish we all had that faith and strength. They had nothing to give, yet they gave everything they are to these orphans. When some one asked Christopher how can you live with this everyday? He answered ” I try to stay positive and keep every one laughing, for when I shed that first tear I don’t know if I will stop crying. If I show that everything is lost, everyone around me will give up. That is not something that we need.” They show each other such amazing love and support, that I don’t think any thing can tear them apart. I wonder do we have to go through that much suffering to find real faith and strength? Why is it that we only call on God when we really need him? Can we have the faith and stength these widows have? Are we able to stand and laugh in deaths face or will we cower and let fear take our life? My mind is overwhelmed with these questions, but I know one thing, it’s that these women had set a wonderful example for those around them. Whoever is raised by them can truly know what it means to follow God till the end. They have been a powerful influence for me and I will never forget their faces and stories.
~Zach
