First Day in the Village

Walking up to the home we would prepare our meals, I passed by the neighbors. Out on a block of concrete in front of their home, a young baby was being bathed. The sunlight streamed down making the tableau a rather holy image.

You see great-grandmother helping joyfully. I never saw any men here, just women and children pursuing the day. I'd been told they were distant to Pastor Elmer and the church that is developing there.

But they were always willing to look me in the eyes and exchange smiles.


Little Andy was teased by the other children. "Big head and big cheeks," they called him. I thought he was extraordinarily adorable. Andy came to VBS the second day we were there. And then his sister Bessi. And then mom and baby.

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.
(Deuteronomy 10: 17-18)