Wilson’s best friend is Lenzo. Lenzo’s youngest child died yesterday, just one year old. Wilson, Fina and Christina have gone to meet Lenzo at Queen Elizabeth Hospital so that Lenzo can sign the papers for the body of his child. No one has cars. How will they take the child home for the funeral? Surely not a crowded minibus. I don’t know.
Wilson asked for money for transport. Fina asked for ufa (maize flour) for a condolence gift to the family. And later asked for money for “nappies” (diapers) for Christina because all of hers are dirty and there was no time to wash them.
It’s so bleak. Children are dying. There is no money to provide assistance, walk for hours to be with your friends or rely on the kindness of your boss for money for transport. It shouldn’t be so difficult to stand with your friends in their moments of grief.
And we’re here, a part but so much apart. Doling out money, offering prayers and sympathy but still shielded from the daily burden of it all. I’m writing a menu for our Thanksgiving meal with our Bible Study group on Thursday and mentally arranging and re-arranging the furniture in our new house.
It’s surreal and awful and a privilege and a burden. It’s all these things and more. And I don’t know how to feel, act or pray these days.
These are the times the Holy Spirit listens to your heart. And, I and others will intercede for you.
I have no words for Lenzo’s loss.
I love you, Kara
Prayers for the peace in grief and uncertainty, and for thanksgiving at the human ability to go beyond all those limitations when our friends need us…