by Laurel Mackintosh

I remember seeing Margaret for the first time, in person, on our mission trip to Kenya in June of 2004. World Vision had asked all of the families of the sponsored children to bring them to a school yard in the Soweto slum where they live. Many walked for hours just to get there.

All of the children were lined up in front of a corrugated tin building that served as a school house and I knew Margaret the second I saw her. She was standing there, staring down at her shoes…just like she did in the picture from her child sponsorship packet.

Soon we were able to meet the families and interact with our children. I had brought a bead kit and we made Margaret a beautiful necklace, while her Mother, who is very shy, and baby brother looked on.

Initially I thought Margaret had her Mother’s shyness gene until we went out to jump rope on the playground. I was trying to get a photo of Margaret with an instant camera and was fighting with the camera to make it work. Margaret came up to me, took my arms and wrapped them around her. It’s one of my favorite memories.

I have been to Kenya with Bethany and World vision several times over the last few years. Now, when Margaret sees me, she runs up and hugs me. I have also built a strong relationship with her Mother. She is now much less shy with me, and we share prayer requests with each other.

World Vision came to Bethany a few years ago to present the opportunity to sponsor children from the Soweto Area Development Project in Nairobi, Kenya. They asked if there was perhaps someone at Bethany that would be interested in serving as a liaison between World Vision and those at the church who wish to sponsor children. God put the picture of a little girl named Margaret on my heart and I jumped at the opportunity.

I can now speak with conviction of the good work being done by World Vision in the Soweto slum, as I have experienced it first hand.

And thanks to a little girl named Margaret, my world, and my heart have grown immeasurably.