House to House (Part 2 of 3)

I have long known about an African tradition that I think America is missing out on.  This tradition is that the youngest son will come back to the family home and care for his parents.  They know that this is their responsibility and most take it on with honor.  I get the sense that the elderly here are seen as wise and respected; and caring for them in the last years has traditionally been no burden at all.

As change is continually happening, some families are finding that the children, especially after receiving an education, want to stay in the city and work.  They do not want to return to the rural areas to care for aging parents.  (Not so different at all from America.)  High value is placed on receiving an education, so it seems fair that they should go where they can earn a living.

During our House to House visits we met many elderly men and women, some in good situations, other situations made me want to burst into tears.

This woman lives at home with her son and his family. When we arrived she was sitting in this chair and I wondered if she was all alone, and then family member after family member kept popping out of the house and the woods. We met her granddaughter who is on holiday from Secondary school and seemed so happy to be with her grandmother.

We had communion together, she was unable to move from her chair so we brought the bread and wine right into her home.

She was so grateful for the visit, but even more grateful were her son and daughter-in-law who feel so terrible that they cannot get her to church. The visit perhaps meant even more to them.  This family, gathering around prayer and holy communion, was strengthened and encouraged in their faith and in their family.

It was a blessing to be a part of it.

Then we met this woman.

Her story will break your heart.

She had 5 children, one died in a car accident, another was killed when his house got broken into, and the other three are living with their own families in DarEsSalaam. She is all alone.

She cried into her hands as she talked with us.  Yet she smiled with joy and hope when we served her communion and blessed her.  She shared both tears and joy, but her tears are now stuck in my memory and I wonder every day what she is doing.

On these house to house visits we have seen a piece of African life that is heartbreaking and I'm beginning to wonder if one of the next steps of our partnership here is in caring for these lonely aging souls.

"Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her."  1 Timothy 5:5