I was a little intimidated to visit the slums - unsure of how safe it would be. But, sometimes it is good to step out of your comfort zone to fully experience life and what God has planned for you. I was later shocked at how safe and welcoming the people in the slums were!
When we arrived at the church (visually all the buildings and houses look like make-shift shacks, but they are truly homes to these people – no running water and no electricity), Jeremy was working with one of the locals help them set up a micro business. This 20 year old guy from Colorado has spent most of the last year building relationships with the people who live in the slums and it is amazing to see the impact he has made – person by person. They were working out of a mead notebook writing down the necessary supplies, estimated costs – sitting on wooden benches on a dirt floor with a group of people gathered around to absorb the conversation.
Mama Flavia, older lady, is one of the local ladies who lives in the slums that Jeremy has helped get on her feet. She graciously welcomed all 9 of us into her ~10x10 house. The interior of the house was decorated in full with skateboarding magazine pages! She was abandoned by her husband and moved to the slums. Jeremy loaned here enough money to start up her micro business of making somosas, (basically triangular tortillas filled with peas/beans – also very delicious), japote, etc. Amazingly she was able to pay off her loan within two months! She was such a joyous and happy lady – totally amazing given the physical circumstance she has been placed in – you could definitely tell that she had the Spirit of God in her heart.
Shakirah, a 20-year old, also welcomed us into her new house. I believe that ‘Come, Let’s Dance’ helped her pay off her 10x10 home in the slums so that she and here family would not have to struggle. I believe she is managing/renting two other homes in the slums to make ends meet. Florence, one of the Ugandan girls who is helping to guide us, went to school with Shakirah. Shakirah’s husband basically fell a couple stories down from a construction site and is not able to work. He has pain and some brain injuries. Shakirah has two adorable children Emma (3-year old boy) and Ester (1-year old girl). She also told us her story and that she was close to leaving her husband and children because life was so hard and she did not know if she could make it through everything. She patiently prayed to God to help her and her family. Amazingly Jeremy came along with such energy and helped her to get on her feet financially and was able to encourage her to continue living through her struggles. Such an amazing example of love, patience, perseverance, trust and total reliance on God.
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