What would it be like to be dreadfully sick, taken to the hospital, and left there to die by a man you loved? the father of your children? your sole provider? Imagine the heartache and the despair to know he was the one who had given you a disease that would take your life, a disease that would destroy your body to thin and bones, a disease that marks you and ostracizes you from your village. This disease, this dreaded disease, the one no one wants to be told they have. . . AIDS.
Imagine the horror of not being able to put a simple meal of rice into the bellies of your children? Could you imagine having to look into the faces of your children and tell them, “I’m sorry. There’s no money for food.”
Imagine you being served lunch at a local church conference; your belly aching from the hunger pains, you putting your portion in a dirty bag to take home with you so your children could have food that night.
That was her story, Margret’s story. It took place as follows:
The month was June and the year was 2012. Here I was, in Africa of all places. This was my first time on Ugandan soil. I was sitting in a church made of scraps of wood and pieces of tin. Here I sat in a circle with a group of Ugandan women, and I saw her. I saw her troubled face, her angry eyes, her face that knew nothing of a smile, only that of a scowl.
The LORD was so gracious to me, as I sat here among these women, having the privilege of opening God’s word with them and teaching them. Little did I know at that time, but it was I who needed teaching the most.
It was our second day there. We had eaten with these precious people, studied God’s word with them, and fellowshipped with them. We were nearing our time of leaving, when my translator pulled me to the side. She said, “Margret wants to speak with you privately.”
Because Margret was too poor to receive an education, she could understand my English but only spoke her tribal tongue. She and I sat in that precious little church one across from the other. I looked intently at her as she told me her story:
Margret has two boys, Ivan and Antone. They looked to be close to the ages of my two girls, Ashley and Hanna. One day Margret grew very sick and needed to go to the hospital. Her husband had taken her to the hospital. It was here she received those dreaded words. . .”You have AIDS.” When Margret’s husband heard her diagnosis, he left. Right then. Right there. Left. Gone. Here he was . . .the one who had given her this disease that would eventually cost her her life. . .gone. Here Margret was, in distress, in pain, and in sickness . . . hearing this awful news, and her husband bolts. Right then. Right there. He leaves and never returns.
We had provided lunch for those at the church that day. Margret had no money to buy food for her children. She had taken her portion of the food we served her and put it in a bag, a bag that she would take home with her to feed to her children. She went without so that her children could have. It was at this very moment God joined my heart to this woman.
Why?
Because I got it. I get a mother’s love. I knew I would do that very same thing for my three children. .. do without, so they could have. . . deny myself, so they could be full. However, the difference between Margret and I was as vast as the ocean that separates the United States from Africa. . . I never have had to. I’ve never had to do without a necessity of life so that my children could have. I’ve never had to wonder if and when we would eat our next meal. I’ve never had to contemplate going hungry myself so that the bellies of my children could be satisfied. I’ve never even had to wonder who would care for my children should my life be taken. I’ve never had a husband who betrayed me and left.
My heart was broken like it’s never been broken before. Broken for this mother who had to face circumstances I couldn’t imagine ever having to bear. We left the church that day and went visiting homes in the village. I walked those dusty, Ugandan roads with a heart that was in millions of pieces. I prayed and prayed and asked God to show me, to help me, and to provide a way.
The next day we came to the church, taught, ate, fellowshipped, and left to go and visit. One of the homes Pastor Lawrence took us to was Margret’s. My heart leaped with joy and excitement to be a guest in her home. She and I and Pastor Lawrence sat and talked.
Margret’s Home
She talked mostly about her fears of dying, of everyone thinking her children would have AIDS (although they didn’t because she had them tested), of no one caring for her children once she died. She then looked at me and said, “Will you take my children?”
In that very moment I felt such strong conviction, “No woman should ever have to ask me to care for her children when I have the money to buy the medicine that will prolong her life.” The prices to save her life? About $1 a day.
Less than the cost of a pack of gum. . .
Less than the cost of a soda. . .
Less than a cup of coffee. ..
And for what?
To save the life of a mother who loved her two boys just as much as I love my three children.
The Scripture came to my heart, “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” 1 John 3:17
With tears flowing down my face and with great joy in my heart I told Margret, “God has provided for you. Your medicine will be bought, and your house and business rent will be paid.” This precious woman threw her hands high in the air, waving them in praise to our great God.
Margret’s business. . . a fruit stand
Once I returned home I shared Margret’s story with my church family. After sharing, three different people approached me telling me they wanted to help. I thought to myself, “Our family is taking care of Margret, but there are so many Margrets right there in Bunga. What if other women could be helped the same way Margret has been helped? What if there was a sponsorship program out there for women, for mothers, to help the mamas take care of their babies?”
And this was the beginning. . . the beginning of Margret’s Voice, a ministry where love has been put into action, where we love our far-away neighbors as ourselves, and where the truth of God’s word is proclaimed. It all started with one. . . one woman and her story. And by God’s great grace and with your help we are growing one life at a time.
“LEARN to do good, SEEK justice, CORRECT oppression, BRING justice to the fatherless, PLEAD the widow’s cause.” Isaiah I:17
