When Love Comes Home - A Miracle in Motion

A Miracle in Motion

You are about to encounter a miracle.

Step into Africa and experience a story that was made possible because of friends like you.

The events and circumstances of this story are real. The names you will read have been changed for privacy purposes.

Special thanks to Lydia Ho for the beautiful illustrations and to the World Changers in East Africa who inspire us all by living such stories of transformation.

“Where have you been and what are you eating?” shouted Leah to Beatrice, her oldest daughter. Beatrice’s stomach tightened with fear.

Leah was too preoccupied to realize that the pain her anger caused was often worse than the hunger her children lived with daily.

“We received some ugali (porridge) from the neighbor,” mumbled Beatrice. She didn’t dare remind her mom that she hadn’t fed them all day. Leah would become so fierce when she was drunk that she could throw even a sizable man off her property if he delayed paying her for the illegal alcohol she made and sold from their home.

Her small compound was filled with dozens of alcoholics from morning until night. Unfortunately, Leah’s husband was her most frequent customer. He used to have a good government job, but after the loss of their son, he began drinking to numb his sorrow and was let go. His days now seemed to pass without notice as he drank, slept, and, at times, sold the family’s possessions to fund another night’s escape from responsibility.

“Now that you’ve eaten,” Leah grumbled, shaking off her emotions, “go fetch some water. We have more customers coming and a lot of work to do.”

Carrying 20 pounds of water from the river was often more than Beatrice’s 12-year-old body could bear. Knowing it would be turned into a toxic drink made the one-mile walk even more difficult—almost as hard as walking past the school where other children were playing or learning in class.

Later that evening the alcohol called changaa (meaning “kill me quick”) continued to flow. An increase of drunken men signaled an increased risk to the village children. Beatrice knew this all too well and tried her best to ignore the gestures given by the men, whose wives wanted nothing to do with them.

Shortly before midnight Beatrice heard rustling outside. “Mom, there’s something in the corn field.” Leah faintly made out her daughter’s warning and turned her head as Beatrice sprinted to the back of their plot where the other children were sleeping. A rush of flashlights confirmed their fears: it was a raid by the police! Leah ran with a stampede of fleeing customers while Beatrice hurried her siblings into a neighbor’s sheep pen.

In the dark of night, Leah was shoved into the back of a police pickup. Once again, she’d left Beatrice to lead the household. Will my life ever change? Convinced of a negative answer, she immediately dismissed the hope a question like that could bring.

Stuck in a filthy jail cell for days, Leah stewed with anger, frustration, and disappointment. She had felt trapped by her identity as a brewer but now a new name was added: “convict.”

It took the sale of her brother’s cow and weeks of scraping money together for her husband, Peter, to pay for her release. When she arrived home, a dozen men were there waiting—not to welcome her but to get what they wanted, another cup of changaa changaa..

Leah was starting up the fire to brew once again when her neighbor Betty arrived. “I know how you feel, Leah,” she said, almost in a whisper. A recognizable rage boiled inside of Leah. How can anyone understand my miserable life? she thought.

“If you didn’t come with money, then leave or this firewood will fly in your face!” Leah scolded, loud enough for her daughter to hear.

Beatrice began watching through a crack in the wooden shutter.

“I used to try to survive this way too, but it became more than I could bear. I was selling alcohol to young people my own son’s age, and I realized how I was ruining families, including my own. Poverty had a chokehold on our home and guilt strangled my heart. Leah, a door of opportunity opened and I chose to step through it. I discovered new skills and faith in God during a special week of training. I was able to change because of a miracle.”

Leah kicked a stool in anger just as Peter staggered by. He stumbled to the ground. His swollen eye and torn shirt told of a fight that did not go his way.

“The only door I can see right now, Betty, is the one you are leaving through!” The conversation was over, at least for the moment.

Undeterred, Betty returned the following week.

“I thought I told you I have no time for you. Is your memory gone?”

Leah barked.

“No, my memory is fine, Leah,” Betty smiled kindly. “I just wanted to drop off something from my garden.”

Leah’s eyes widened as she looked at the kale, cabbage, and carrots.

“This is from your garden?”

“Yes,” answered Betty. “This is part of what I’m trying to tell you. I even traded six chickens last week for a goat!”

“But you were a brewer, just like me!”

“I know what I used to be, Leah, and you see with your own eyes what God has helped me to become. He wants to do the same for you.”

“You don’t know what you’re asking me to give up,” argued Leah.

“Oh, don’t I? Let me guess: you’re wondering how you will get money to care for your kids, right? The truth is, they are barely eating, not in school, and living in fear. They’re terrified of the fights, the police raids, and the alcoholics surrounding them, including you and Peter.”

Leah knew that Betty was speaking the truth without condemnation.

Her heart stirred. Brewing is the only thing I know, but if Betty can change, maybe something can happen for me. Whatever it is, it would take a miracle.

Leah shared several cups of chai tea as her friend offered even more stories of hope. Her mind was settled. She was willing to meet with the people who had helped transform Betty’s life.

“God has great plans for you, Leah, plans to prosper you. I just pray He knows what He is getting Himself into!” Now both women were smiling and laughing as the first flicker of hope was ignited.

A week later Leah stood by the taxi that had pulled close to her home. “Beatrice, if you need anything, your aunt is here and maybe your father will show up soon,” called Leah, focusing her mind to follow the path her heart was already set on.

She stepped into the vehicle, not knowing what to expect. One person had warned her this was all a trap and she would end up in jail. Leah surprised herself by agreeing to take the risk, no matter what. It was the first of many surprises to come.

Leah was relieved when they pulled into the ELI training center and not a prison. She was greeted in the parking lot and escorted into a dining hall where she and around 30 others received a warm welcome and a hearty lunch. They settled into their rooms, talked a bit, and gathered after supper to sing—something Leah had not done in over a decade. It felt wonderfully strange to sleep on a bed instead of a blanket on the floor and to bathe in warm water from a showerhead.

The next morning’s session was like nothing she had ever experienced.

Samuel, an ELI trainer, began with a heartfelt prayer and some opening remarks and then kindly asked a question: “Why have you come?”

An awkward silence filled the room until one woman raised her hand and bravely shared her desire to come out of illegal brewing. Her story of poverty and brokenness was honest and riveting. Soon more guests shared their stories, as tears began to fall around the room.

I don’t believe this, thought Leah. They’re just like me. What surprised her most was the absence of condemnation. The ELI staff was not judging them. In fact, she felt encouraged, validated, and affirmed for how hard life could be. They reassured the group by saying, “We are here to walk alongside you, not to arrest you.”

Samuel made a detailed list on the chalkboard of what the women hoped to learn, and then several ELI staff shared powerful teachings on the process of change. One of the devotions was led by Peris who shared so beautifully that Leah could hardly believe she was once a notorious brewer. Perhaps this change is possible for me too.

That evening one woman stood and declared that she wanted to change the course of her life but knew that a permanent change had to occur from the inside out. Echoes of agreement rang out from the others and soon Leah, along with many others, invited Christ into her heart to bring about the change she so desperately wanted. Prayers turned into singing and Leah felt warm, healing tears rolling down her cheeks as she added her voice to the chorus: “No turning back, no turning back.�

A miracle was now in motion.

The feeling of acceptance and love deeply touched Leah’s heart. As her mind was being challenged to think and plan in ways she’d never known possible, her pride, self-worth, and dignity began to rekindle.

New ideas inspired her each day. She and the others dreamed of what could be as they walked through the demonstration farm filled with vegetable gardens, a unique style of chicken rearing, a tree nursery, a small fishpond, and vertical gardens that maximized small spaces. Lynette, one of several ELI trainers, highlighted many other business ideas. Leah was especially captivated by the training on how to bake bread, cook chips (French fries), and fry mandazi (Kenyan donuts). I could run my own cafe! she thought, surprising herself yet again.

For decades her mind could not see a life other than brewing. Now she couldn’t believe how long she had suffered under that yoke.

She knew it would take hard work, dedication, and time to change course, but it would be worth it. She wanted so badly to live a peaceful, purposeful life with a healthy family and a bright future.

Then another surprise stirred in her heart as she began to feel a new compassion for the other ladies in her community who had been trapped in the same life of poverty.

Once I make it out, I’m going to help them do the same, she quietly told herself. She wanted to lead others into freedom and the miracle of change she was experiencing at the training center.

After an incredible week Leah returned home refreshed. She looked smart, smelled clean, and had a sparkle in her eye.

“Is this our mom?” Beatrice giggled with her siblings.

When Peter saw Leah, his eyes grew wide. He cleared his throat and blurted out, “Uh, I hope you have not spent much money on, you know, fixing yourself up.” Leah pulled him aside out of earshot of the children. She didn’t yell or threaten, but as he slowly walked away, it was clear she had told him that things needed to change.

Leah walked back to the small hut and assembled the kids.

“Children,” she began, “I am done with brewing. Our family is done with brewing. Please, forgive me for how things have been in the past. I have promised God and I commit to you that today is a new day. Things will not be easy for a while, but if we all work together, guided by God, we can have a better life.”

She had more to say but before she could continue, four pairs of arms were wrapped around her as the kids shouted with joy. By the afternoon the children were already digging to turn the former brewing area into a garden. The work was not easy but they knew their efforts would help change the course of life for their family.

“Jambo [Hello],” shouted some visitors at the entrance to Leah’s home.

“Karibu, Karibu [Welcome, Welcome],” replied a smiling Leah. “It is so good to see you again, Betty! Did you come to check up on me?” Both ladies hugged and laughed, the joy obvious on their faces.

“I have brought Pastor John to show him one of God’s latest miracles.”

“Oh, come back in another month and the kitchen garden will look even better.”

“I’m not talking about your garden, Leah. I am talking about you!”

Leah smiled and asked Beatrice to show their guests around the garden while she checked on the bread in her metal-drum oven and finished frying some donuts. The plot was truly transformed. A small garden had been planted and clucking could be heard from a nearby chicken coop.

“It is remarkable to see what you have done in only a few weeks, Leah,” commented Pastor John.

“I am committed to never brew again,” Leah spoke proudly. “Soon some chickens can be sold and the garden will produce its first harvest. Listen, Betty, the first bucket of potatoes we harvest will be for the church and the second will be a gift from my family to yours.

A small way to say thank you for helping bring love to our home.”

Pastor John sat amazed as the two ladies closed their visit in prayer.

As they walked through the garden toward the road, Pastor John bought some sugar from her shop. “I remember what this home used to look like,” he remarked. “And I am reminded of what someone once said: ‘Preach the gospel at all times and use words when necessary.’

Leah, you are giving quite the sermon right here.”

Two months later the children ran to embrace their mother as she arrived home. Her contagious smile was an indication that her time at the market had been a huge success. All the bread and donuts were sold as well as several of the chickens. On the bench she plopped a bag that held more baking supplies and chicken food. Maintaining her smile, she slowly removed one more thing: a new shirt for Peter.

After seeing the transformation in his wife and home, Peter asked ELI for help too. His road to recovery was far from over, but Leah encouraged his desire to change. He was, in fact, moving forward, one step at a time.

Leah turned toward her children, eager to give even more good news.

“I have arranged a payment plan with the school to pay all your fees over time. And Auntie said she would help buy your school uniforms!”

They could not believe their ears. Beatrice was speechless. With a joy-filled heart she could see that her mom’s prayers were putting a miracle into motion for her as well.

Sunday arrived and the whole family walked to Pastor John’s church.

Thanks to her successful market day, Leah humbly put $5 in the offering as her children watched. They were all becoming more a part of the church and could feel the value it added as they grew to love God and care for others.

Several months after Leah’s visit to the training center, a few people from the ELI training team, including Samuel and Lynette, came to her village for another visit. Only one of the women who were a part of that life-changing week had returned to brewing.

They all gathered in the shade of a mango tree and began to sing, encourage one another, and ask business and gardening questions of the ELI staff. They then took time to visit each person’s home to witness their progress. Leah could not contain her joy as she gave the ELI team a tour of her garden and the “poultry production area,” as she now called it.

“And who is that lady working in your field?” asked Lynette.

“That is Mary, my neighbor. Her husband just passed away so I am trying to help her earn a little income while I teach her the new gardening ideas I’ve learned. I’m going to surprise her with a couple of chicks next week because she has a dream of raising chickens too.”

Samuel beamed at witnessing the development of a World Changer firsthand. Leah was now earning a God-honoring income, pursuing a relationship with Christ, and sharing her knowledge and testimony with others.

“Leah,” he said, “we have identified you as being a person of influence, an emerging leader in your community. Right now we are assembling a cohort of individuals to empower your entire village.

This group of around 12 people will include Pastor John, an elder from his church, and Chief David. We believe the Lord is preparing the way for us to work together to reach 300 families in your village in the next year. Would you be interested in being a part of a group like this?”

“Thank you,” Leah exclaimed. “I feel honored that you would consider me. Let me learn some more about what is required of me, talk to Peter, and pray about it.”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” replied Samuel. “There is some important strategic planning that is needed and we would love your input. Chief David would like to have the first cohort meeting in two weeks. We are raising the funds right now to make sure we can support this vision. We have named this initiative ‘Family HOPE’ so that more families like yours can Heal hearts, Overcome poverty, Pursue Christ, and Empower others. We’ll walk through this door of opportunity together and shine His light as brightly as possible.”

As her visitors said their goodbyes and drove away, Leah paused to look around her home. The brewing den had been replaced by a kitchen garden, the chickens were pecking around the yard, and her children were happily playing tag near the shop. She found her arms raising up in praise as these words from her heart rang heavenward: “Thank you, Lord, for this miracle!”

Leah’s life and family were caught in a downward cycle of poverty.

Her children were uneducated, malnourished, and destined to follow in her footsteps. Then love stepped in.

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