here, there and beyond: Devotion

Marion Medical Mission puts together a devotional booklet each year with daily reflections from Americans and Africans for the days of well building and installation. I wrote the one for October 1 (not that I knew that before the booklet came out):

WATCHING AND WAITING

Jessi Stitt

Volunteer, North Carolina

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12

It was my first year as a Marion Medical Mission volunteer. Most of our villages were quite spread out. We were the Team 2 clean-up crew – the outlying villages. We could easily have to drive two hours to get to the first well and then an hour plus to the following villages. But my partner and I both love driving so that wasn’t a problem. But this day, we had two villages very close to each other. In fact, we stopped in one to drop off the pipes and pump and then continued on to the other as our builder knew he could get back here and get started installing while we were dedicating the first well and celebrating with the people. This would ‘speed’ our progress for the day.

We dedicated the first well, celebrated and received offerings of thanks (eggs, ground nuts, tomatoes) and headed back to the village we had passed through. When I stopped the truck and opened the door, I was greeted by an agogo (grandmother). She took my hand and did not release it as we walked to the well site. She talked to me the entire way, waving her free hand around to the land and the people. While I don’t really know what she said, I understood. This was her home, her family, and the glistening in her eyes and the smile on her face said so much.

Agogo didn’t release my hand until she saw the clean water come out of the well. She let out an ululation (high pitched warble) and bounced with joy. Our Field Officer then told me that she had been telling me that when she saw the truck come through the village and not stop, she was devastated. She had seen trucks passing on other days and had begun to lose hope that our promise would be kept. And then we had come but passed right through. When we returned she wasn’t going to let me go until that water came to be. Her dreams came true. Her family would be healthy, her village would no longer get sick. Water is life and God is good.

Application Questions: What are you hoping for? How can you help make it happen?

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for your promises to us. To always love us and to send us those who can help. Help us as we help others and as we share Your love to all those around us, near and far. Remind us that we are not forgotten, we are loved, and we are called. Amen

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