Her name is Denise, she will be 70 years old next year, she walked in bare feet to meet with me.  My first impression when talking with her was that somehow she exuded bravery, strength and courage.  When I heard her story, I understood how she could so easily exude those characteristics.  She was pregnant with her 8^th child when her husband died of a sickness during the war.  She lost 3 more children due to sickness when they were young and then a few years later she lost 1 more child as a teenager.  A simple sickness during the war turned into a high probability of death.  The hospitals were ransacked many times, medical staff murdered, and patients were too afraid, too poor, and too sick to travel with all the dangers that lurked. 

I sat across from Denise listening intently.  I am living in the same exact area she is, yet I honestly cannot say I truly understand and grasp any part of her story to the depth.  The war in Burundi lasted 12 years, many times feeling like peace might be around the corner only to find more violence ahead.  I can’t fathom it.  The bravery it took to face the fact that she was going to be raising 8 children alone in a war-torn country and then to face the pain of losing 4 of those children.  And yet, Denise did not give up.  She worked in the garden as much as she could to put food on the table.  The idea of her children having the opportunity to go to school was beyond her reach, though she desired it, none of her children were able to attend school. 

Denise’s 4 children are grown and living with their own families now.  She is alone and still struggling, but still thankful.  With tear filled eyes she told me how thankful she is for a roof over her head.  Even as I write this blog the rain is pouring down and I think of Denise in her home able to be dry because someone spent money to give her a home.  She is so glad the rain no longer falls on her.  Imagine being so poor you own 1 pair of clothes so when those clothes get wet, you’re just cold and wet until you naturally dry.  And if you don’t have money for a metal roof you use grass and leaves, and these hard rains pour right through. 

Denise has 11 grandchildren too and she is thankful.  Her health is slowly failing as she ages, but her spirit is as strong as ever.  1 person sacrificing $40 a month would mean a meal every day for Denise, being able to go to the doctor when she needs medical care, and she would buy clothing so she could have more than 1 outfit.  $40 a month would tell Denise she matters, she’s valuable, her story is important and not only does a sponsor care for her, but more than anything it tells her the God she continues to serve despite all of life’s difficulties cares deeply for her and He has not forgotten her.