An unexpected gift from a little girl in Africa

A few wrapped gifts sit under our tree.  The wrapping paper, the shiny bows, the ribbon and the tags – all leave the recipients excited about the possibilities inside the package.

We anticipate the THINGS we’ll open on Christmas day.

Sometimes though God’s greatest gifts at this time of year come to us in the form of PRESENCE, not PRESENTS.

The presence of a God who has come near and the presence of people who fill our hearts.

A few days ago, I received an email from my dear friend Allison in Kenya.

She shared that they received an unexpected gift earlier this week. Not a  gift wrapped up with a pretty bow, but a gift God sent in the form of a smiling girl hobbling to their doorstep on crutches.

They recognized her immediately – how could anyone forget that smile? It was Janet.

My husband, Daniel & I met Janet on a warm African day in the summer of 2001.  We were having a gathering for children in the village and Janet came riding piggyback on the back of one of her friends.  We were immediately taken by her radiant smile.  Her friends placed her on the red-mud ground and we noticed right away that something was different about this sweet child. She was unable to stand on her two feet. Though she was eight years old, she  crawled on her calloused hands and knees to get around.

We spent a lot of time with that little girl that summer and the next when we returned to Kenya. We listened and learned her story. Janet suffered from polio as a child causing her legs to be completely bent and bow-legged.  Janet was living with her alcoholic father, her mother and siblings in Chebaiywa village.  In order to get to school her mother would carry her on her back (like a backpack) down the long dirt roads.

In the remote village where we were there was not adequate medical care for  her, but we learned that there were great possibilities for Janet in the capital city, Nairobi if only the money could be raised for her. So in 2001, God’s love compelled us. We were enamored by this little African girl and knew we would do whatever we could to assist her. We learned that it was possible for Janet to have an operation to straighten her legs.  The team raised money for the surgery and for Janet to enroll in a special school.

A year later Daniel & I returned to Kenya.  One of the first people we wanted to visit was Janet. We traveled with some missionary friends to her home. She was recovering from her first surgery and her legs were casted. We laughed and cried, and shared news over piping cups of chai.   Daniel brought his guitar that day and we sang in English and Swahili, and worshiped the Lord together, celebrating the HOPE He had offered this sweet little African girl.

Janet had three surgeries and enrolled in her new school and for 12 years, no one had heard from her.

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UNTIL last Sunday when a grown up, beautiful,  smiling young woman hobbled on crutches to the home of our Kenyan friends. Pastor David & Allison sent us an email with pictures and videos of Janet. WALKING. Only. God.

They asked her, “Where do you feel God is leading you in your life? What would you like to do as a career? ”

She answered “I want to be a pastor! Even if you come to my school you’ll hear people calling me, ‘Pastor’.

“Why do you want to be a pastor?” David asked.  Janet, with a full-teeth smile replied,”oh because God has done great things in my life and I want to serve Him.”

Once again I am in awe of how God can transform lives.

I’m reminded of the Christmas song, “Mary, did you know.” Sweet mama Mary, did you have any idea, that the baby you gave birth to would be this kind of God-man?

 “Mary did you know?.. that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know….?

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
 THE LAME WILL LEAP.

 The dumb will speak
THE PRAISES OF THE LAMB.”

The Christ child we celebrate is the one who makes the blind see. He still makes things new. He causes the lame little girl  to WALK, he heals our brokenness and makes beauty from ashes. THIS IS OUR GOD.

This year, one of many favorite Christmas gifts came in the form of an email, and a God-story of that little girl in Africa whose life had touched mine so many years ago. Janet was made new-both in her physically body and in her soul  by the King who came to earth.  It’s better than any package under my tree.

-Alyssa