I went to visit Mary today and she was so happy to see me (well, she couldn’t see me technically as she is now totally blind from AIDS).  The first thing she asked me was how my mom was doing in the nursing home and that she prays for her every day.

Her situation has gotten worse.  She is totally blind now and can’t leave her home or cook any food for herself.  Her 13-year old daughter ran away with a man and is now pregnant.  Her 14-year old boy, Daniel, is doing well at the school at Tumaini, but has to do all of her personal care, home care and cooking (on top of going to school and doing his homework).

She is desperate.  My mom had sent $100 for me to spend on food for her and that should last many weeks (cooking oil, flour, rice, dry beans, tea, sugar, bread, jam, vaseline for her skin, laundry soap and body soap).  She believes she can have an operation (cataracts maybe?) that will allow her to discern light and dark again, but it is $600. She has no income now that she can’t tend her garden, BUT she is thankful that the cow that she received from Heart for Africa back in 2007 and proudly announced that the cow is pregnant again!!!!  She is so thankful for that and praises God for that.

I took it upon myself to offer my mom’s help of hiring  a housemaid.  For $26 per month, we hired one of the other Seagull women (named Emma) to work at Mary’s home every day, 30 days/month to do her laundry, cook her meals and be her friend.  It was a blessing to Emma as she has no income other than the jewelry making and she cares for many in her home.  Hopefully between Emma and the son they can get the garden going again.

As we drove back to Nairobi I couldn’t help thinking about what a “bad day” is to me.  She is a 47 year old woman who is not angry or bitter and has a long list of reasons that she could be.  She is thankful.  I am a 46 year old woman with lots of complaints and often little thankfulness.  For that I repent … again.