The Right Thing
As we walked the narrow path to Josephine's house, I was overcome with excitement and anxiety. Not every eleven year old gets to visit the house they built for a widow in Burundi, Africa! After greeting and hugging each other we stepped inside the small four room home for a short visit.
Josephine told us how she sells items in the market for money and uses the francs to paint her walls or add concrete floors to make her house nicer. After listening attentively, my dad had a translator tell Josephine how I earned the money to build the house. Then Josephine proudly took us on a quick tour of her new house. After seeing the one mattress that five girls had to sleep on, I felt extra thankful for my own bed! As we walked out the front door my dad and I noticed the big lock on the wooden door. Josephine told us that she is very grateful for that lock and that it makes her feel safe and secure. After a prayer of blessing, Josephine and her oldest daughter danced and sang with thanks and joy giving us gifts.
We said goodbye with more hugs, then we walked up the hill to our car, with a mob of little kids following. As we drove back to the hotel I remembered how happy and thankful Josephine and her family were and I knew I had done the right thing!
Eleven year old Laura used money from her savings and birthday gifts to help finance a home for Josephine, a widow sponsored by Laura’s grandmother.
