A lesson in humility

When we made the decision to move to Africa I expected to take up volunteer work to fill the time I used to spend working while Adalyn was at school.  I had reached out to 2 orphanages each with approx 250 kids, a soup kitchen, and a homeless program all of which turned me down stating they did not have any work for me.  I finally had some luck with a church we started attending but they only offered 2 hours of work every other Tuesday.  After figuring out that a large volunteer project was never going to work out for me I began looking closer to home.

Our domestic, Joyce, was the perfect place to start.  Since she was supporting a family of 8 on her salary of $2 per hour I started to give her groceries, clothes, household items.  Then in January when after 6 months of working for me, she mentioned that she did not have hot water in her house, I knew this was my next task.

Joyce's home which currently sleeps 6 people

The brick room in the back was built this year and sleeps one of her nephews
 and there is an identical one next to it which sleeps her son.
For the past 13 years the two boys were sleeping on the dining room and kitchen floor.

Joyce's nephew's room.  It has electricity for a light
and he shares the family bathroom in the adjacent house.
Her 17 year old nephew told me he was happy to have his own bed.    

Joyce and her husband's bedroom in the main house.
 There are no doors separating it from the other room, just a cabinet and a curtain. 

Second bedroom in Joyce's house.  Her 17 year old daughter, 3 year old daughter and 1 year old grandson share the bed.  Her 13 year old nephew sleeps on the floor.  No door separating it from the rest of the house, just a cabinet and a curtain.

 Despite living in a government owned home for the last 13 years, it only had plumbing for cold water to two sinks.  It had a working toilet, but no bath tub.  Joyce put in a bath tub but could not afford to complete the plumbing to fill it.

 When asked about how her family bathed, I was immediately humbled.  Every morning Joyce lays out rocks in the sun along with buckets of water, comes to work at our house, then returns home to hopefully find the rocks and the water warm.  She then brings them into her home and each family member will give themselves a sponge bath as filling the tub would make the water only usable for the first few people.

Of course I pried more and she said that the government was suppose to give them a solar water heater years ago, but the program folded.  Joyce always wanted to install a solar water heater but the cost was more than they could afford.  I kept picturing Joyce bathing her 3 year old daughter, and 1 year old grandson in cold water each night during the winter, and my heart would sink.  Each morning as I took a hot shower, often enjoying it longer than necessary, I would feel guilty that Joyce came to my house each day to clean it with hot water while going without at home.  I began my search into the world of solar water heaters, not knowing anything about them, but that it had to be done.

 150 Liter Solar water heater

After contacting several companies, I found one that offered a good model at a reasonable price and would install it in one day.  I can't even put a price on what I would pay for hot water, as it is something I have never had to think about.  But for $750 I was able to provide Joyce and her family with something that I hope will change their lives for the better.  Joyce took off the day of the install, I joined her at her home, along with some of her kids and neighbors, and we watched the men install the hot water heater.  My intentions were to give Joyce this gift but really I am the one who received more.

New copper plumbing installed for the bathroom and kitchen sink.

Worker installing the solar water heater. 

I found myself crying just by seeing how happy Joyce was.  In 42 years she has never taken a hot shower and never complained about it.  Prior to living in her current home she did not even have running water, electricity or a toilet.  Five different sets of neighbors also came over to watch the install and thanked me for doing this for Joyce's family, and I was thinking "how could I not do it".  Her kid's came home from school and were excited about what now appeared on their roof.  Joyce took her neighbors into her home, turned on the kitchen sink and they were all excited for her that warm water was coming out.  She even showed them the newly plumbed bath tub and they celebrated.  Since several of her neighbors do not have indoor plumbing, this was a big step up in their eyes.

Joyce's kitchen complete with a 4 burner stove and oven, sink and fridge/freezer. 

Joyce's dining room, they only have 3 chairs currently so family meals can't happen all together at the table.
 (next on my to do list)
Behind the curtains are the two bedrooms. 

Kitchen with 2 faucets for cold and hot water

Bathroom with taps for cold and hot water. No sink in the bathroom.

Living in Africa has really opened my eyes to what a privileged life I have.  I am a different person for living here, not only from what I have seen other go without, but how gracious they are for what little they have.  I have been humbled by this experience and thank God for putting Joyce in my life.  I made sure she knew this was happening because of all the wonderful care she has given my family since we arrived.  God has blessed our family with plenty of gifts and I never thought that my "gift" to Joyce would really unfold as another one of God's gifts to me.  Spiritually I knew God had plans for me while I was here, but it just took some time to figure out that trying to help a group of people was not the way to go for me and I needed to start in my own home.

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow"