Abraham

On our excursions into villages with Sergio, we met a really interesting man. His name is Abraham. He lives at the top of a hill that I am amazed he is able to get up, as it is quite challenging. And well, he is quite disabled, suffering severe deformities. But from his small front yard area, he can see the island where he was born and on which most of his family still lives, and it is quite a spectacular view.

He supports his family by repairing things. He says he is patient and was always curious how things work, so people bring him things that need to be fixed. His children sell coal and rice and beans from a little area below the house, next to the trail. I’m not sure exactly how many children he has total, but it is quite a passle. What is striking is what a loving and affectionate a father he is. How happy and confident his children are. Everywhere we go, the children are desperate for attention, but not these. They are well loved.

When we visit, he has the children bring chairs for us to sit in front of the house, and as we talk with him, word somehow spreads, and before long there is quite a crowd of gossiping women and curious neighbors listening to the whole thing. I guess this is not an everyday event, to have Americans visiting. But you would never know it, because he is quite a gracious host, and takes our visits in stride. Of all the people we have met in Mozambique, he has been the most hungry to hear of Jesus. The most open to talking about him. And one of the kindest souls I’ve ever known.

~ by sylvia on June 24, 2005.