God, Why Don't You Hear Their Prayer?

The next week Rachel and Jane returned along with other women from the States, carrying a mattress for Cadija.  A normally vocal Cadija sat in silent awe upon her new mattress. The Americans stood still watching and pondering how a person reaches the age of 120 without ever sleeping on a mattress. They encouraged Cadija to lie down which she quickly did and collapsed in contented surrender. Those watching dabbed their eyes and wondered why their lives were so blessed. Pointing to a strip of cloth knotted at her waist Cadija said a neighbor had taken her shillings to buy supplies and the change was secured in the knot. She said she never takes off the belt even when she sleeps. The money she guarded so carefully amounted to a little over two dollars.

On one of Rachel's numerous return visits, she and her team brought tea and donuts. Cadija was sitting outside her hut waiting for her visitors and cried in jubilation when she saw them. She showed them her mattress and how she had covered it with cloths to protect it. It looked new! The team looked around at the walls and realized Cadija's house would crumble soon. Jane pointed out holes where rats gnawed through. The grass roof was in terrible shape and she would get wet when the rains came. 

The team presented Cadija with a new purple basin and a beautiful pink purse with the words Faith, Hope and Love imprinted upon it. She opened the purse which was jammed wth gifts. Laughing she warned: "No one had better try to steal these from me. If you are the person who paid for it, you can come and get it. But if you didn't pay. . . leave it alone!"

Surrounded by her gifts she joked, "Now I need a new house to put these beautiful things in."

Rachel handed her a cup of hot green tea and everyone watched her down it quickly. "Did you like it?"

"Have I not drunk it all?"

When Cadija opened the packages of food, she immediately crawled into her hut and started cooking. Realizing the visit was over the team called "Bye."

Cadija called, "Bye," over her shoulder and happily stirred her porridge. 

To add this book to your library visit the Hope 4 Kids International homepage

God, Why Don't You Hear Their Prayer?