This last Sunday on the 8th of September, Spring Trust
did something amazing on the streets of Harare. The organisation is a Christian
youth institution founded some two or three years ago, and then unfortunately, went
silent for a while. But in the last four months, they have come back to life
and they do not seem to be planning on putting on a disappearing act again.
So on Sunday, the Spring people met in town early morning and
divided themselves up into two groups, so that they would better cover most of
town where the homeless are found. Each group would go to hot spots of where
most are found, have them call their friends and come together to the car where
the food was served. They had prepared a variety of sandwiches plus drink.
True African Woman went along for the ride and to say the
experience was touching would be the understatement of the century! After being
part of such a beautiful thing, I was left humbled and extremely touched – more
than the people who were being helped even. We had to wake some of them and I
wish you could have been there to see the joy on their faces. I have always
been afraid of the homeless, I do not know why; perhaps it is the wrong kind of
socialisation I got. But on Sunday, I realised that they are also people - with
feelings, and oh so very polite – some of them even funny.
One old man almost had me in tears. He came walking extremely
slowly, back slouched. When he got to where the food was being served, he
hesitantly accepted the food and asked how much the food was. The girl who had
handed him his plate smilingly assured him that the food was free. He was so
relieved and appreciative; his expression touched my heart. When he sat down,
and started on his breakfast, it is a scene I shall forever cherish.
By around eleven, they were rounding up. However, they kept
getting delayed because just as they were packing up, more people would come.
By this time, they were in the Harare Gardens. Finally, it was time to go and I
really felt that it was a Sunday morning well spent. One man said something
that got me thinking that if someone who is homeless and has every reason to be
bitter can still have something to be thankful to God for, then how could I, in
my right senses, complain about anything?
Spring hopes to continue doing this on a more regular basis. True
African Woman wishes them all the best and hopes that they can get support. Because
of everything that one can do in this life, making a positive difference in
someone’s life is the best thing one can ever do in his/her life span. Thank
you Spring.
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