September 24, 2012 (Sam)
I know that this is supposed to be a joint blog, “Sam and Christina,” but I’ve kind of hijacked it. So with this liberty, I want to just tell you about my wife for a little bit. She’s lying on the couch fast asleep right now, under the influence of some heavy medication thanks to an excruciating toothache that, for the last month, has caused her to wince when she eats and wake every morning with a sore face. So I want to take this opportunity to brag about her for a minute. And please, don’t ask how our trip to visit the local Kenyan dentist went.
Let me cut to the chase: Christina has the most compassionate heart of anyone I’ve ever met. Her mission in life is to change the world for the better. Her desire is to pour out onto other people the love that she has so richly experienced inside of her relationship with Jesus. And she is accomplishing that mission as we speak. Forget the part about her being asleep on the couch. I mean, being here, being back in the US, being anywhere where we are around people, her obvious love becomes so evident when I watch her interact with others. Christina finds a way to climb inside other people’s experiences with them. Like two people squeezing inside the same t-shirt, Christina gets as close to other people’s pains and struggles as she can manage.
Through our involvement with the youth programs at Beacon of Hope, Christina has developed relationships with a few of the girls connected here. Many of these young girls were born HIV positive, live in the local slum, and seem to have no positive or mentoring influences in their lives. Christina immediately recognized this void, was convicted of their need, and stepped up to fill it. Over the last month, toothache and all, she has been pouring her energy into these girls. Investing in them personally. Having them over to show her how to cook Kenyan food. Spending extensive time researching and sharing opportunities with them for continued education options. Encouraging their positive hobbies and talking to them about their personal struggles.
Evalyne is 17 years old and was born HIV positive. Both of her parents are dead: casualties of the same virus that they passed on to their daughter. Evalyne is almost out of high school and wants to go to college, but because of her lack of access to resources, she has no way of gathering information on application processes, scholarships, academic requirements, etc. Last week Christina had Evalyne into our house and sat with her for four hours talking to her about scholastic opportunities and researching options for her future.
Naomi is 15 and loves to draw. As soon as Christina found this out, she literally dragged me behind her to the store, where she stocked up on art supplies to give her. Now, Naomi comes by every few days to show off her latest dress designs that she’s been sketching to Christina. Christina patiently, delightedly thumbs through each page, pointing out her favorite swoops and falls (I don’t know what these things are called) of each dress, and always encourages Naomi to come back with more.
Sometimes, overwhelmed by the suffering and injustice she sees prevailing in these young girls lives, Christina just cries. But after her tears dry, she sits and thinks of ways she can help them. Not how she can uproot them from their lives and replant them in a more auspicious environment, but rather, how, through intimate investment, personal example, and focused guidance she can help these girls where they’re at.
What Christina’s heart throbs for is helping others. She is an inspiration to me and, when she gets some crazy idea in her head, she is a force to be reckoned with. I am proud to call her my wife.
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