This is Stacie's Blog: Brief Encounter, Big Impact

Today I had an encounter with a woman that I have thought about all day. It was a short encounter, but one with a big impact. Eli and I left the house for a walk to get some groceries. I decided to take the trash to the dumpster on the way. We had forgotten to take it for a couple days so there was a lot to take – three big grocery bags full. I hooked them to a carabiner Al and George rigged up on the stroller handle and left the house. As I approached the dumpster, I saw the trash being burned inside and outside the dumpster. I wondered why because the trash is collected on Saturday. The dumpster is set on a large piece of land that is perhaps three acres. From behind the dumpster, stepped an old woman. I had seen this woman many times.

The first time I noticed her was before the rainy season began. The land was empty, but she began to cultivate it. I didn’t notice anyone helping her and thought, man, she’ll never be able to do the whole thing. But, little by little, she planted the entire field. Now that the rainy season is ending, it’s full of different crops.

Because we don’t have a car, we walk a lot. For a while now, she’ll wave and say hi to us as we pass. When George isn’t with me, she asks where he is. I have seen people digging through the dumpster, looking for anything to salvage. We have given her empty plastic bottles a couple times after she expressed an interest in them. There isn’t a recycling program here so she must have another use for them.

Back to today…when I saw she was burning trash in various piles, I didn’t know where to put mine. Do I just throw them in the dumpster or set them on a pile? I stopped in front and struggled to get all the bags off the carabiner. As I fumbled with the handles, she came over and said, “let me help you. You have the baby.” I managed to get the bags off and handed them to her. I felt bad doing so because, well, it’s trash and trash is stinky and dirty. No one should have to handle my trash.

She asked where George was and talked to Eli for a little. I thanked her again for her help and she said, “You are welcome. I will see you later if the Lord wills.” I said, yes, and then Eli and I continued on our way.

What really struck me was the joy she had. In the midst of sorting through trash and burning certain things, she cared enough to help me and seemed glad to do it. I was also struck by how well she spoke English. That indicated she is educated. I wondered why an educated woman was reduced to digging through trash and doing manual labor in the hot, Tanzanian sun. I know jobs are very hard to get here and people are willing to do whatever to survive and perhaps she has no other option. Maybe someday, I will learn her story. Whatever her story is, she has taught me a lesson. It is possible to be cheerful and content no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. It’s just a matter of perspective and having the peace of God shine through.

Here are a few photos of the area:

The land she cultivated...