I met "Kathy" at the weekly gathering of an association called Laafia Mani (Health is Good). The association is a group of people living with or associated with HIV. The facilitators aren't necessarily Christians, but they try to provide practical help and advice. I went along to see what the group was about and how the Lord might want me to be involved.

The very next day Kathy showed up on my doorstep with her two-year-old son, Ali, seeking work. After chatting, I found out that Kathy's husband had died last year. I gave her some sweeping to do, and her gratitude was almost embarrassing. After she swept, we sat down and talked about her faith. She was Muslim and had never heard anything from the Bible. Since she was willing to listen, I started in Genesis using the Language Recordings picture books. We decided Kathy could sweep my yard twice a week, and when I was there, we'd look at more of what the Bible says.

And so our relationship started. I've never met an adult so fascinated by the Old Testament stories. Kathy soon told me this was the "way" she wanted to follow. She hadn't even heard about Jesus yet! But eventually she did and her enthusiasm never wavered. She seemed to be just waiting for someone to tell her. She put her trust in Jesus and is learning what it means to follow him.

Soon I found out about Kathy's housing crisis. She had been living with her three children in a one-room hut, lent by a neighbour. Wanting her to get out, he eventually removed all her belongings and destroyed the hut! Her great need was to have a hut of her own. As a new friend, I wanted to help her build it, but I was limited in my experience of building mud brick thatched huts! Eventually people in the neighborhood helped build her a hut.

I have often wondered how my limited contribution can make much difference to this small developing country tucked away in West Africa, let alone to the AIDS pandemic. I'm learning, however, that I can make a difference in individuals' lives if I'm ready and willing when the Lord presents an opportunity.