Real Leaders

Back in the summer, I began praying for one “servant leader” among the women in the Marketable Art Guild.  A young wife and mother, Mafi emerged .  She has been a friend to me and a respected leader among her peers (who happen to be a strongly opinionated group of women).  Recently, some money went missing that I had left in her care.  It was a fairly large sum of money in Haiti.

Mafi was deeply disturbed. She insisted on paying me back for it. I said, “No. You will not.”  I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that she did not steal it.  We talked for a while and she said, ever so humbly, “Mama Kati, in order for us to have a real friendship, a strong friendship, I have to pay this money to you.”  So, I conceded.  Wow. I was blown away. Integrity!  I’m so thankful that God has shown me who the real leader in our group would be.

A similar thing happened with Benson, the young man who leads a group of 10 in building the Journals.  I nearly over payed him by about 30 US dollars on the last order.  He stopped me and corrected my math.  Thank you God for bringing us these folks to work with!

The truth is that in our community stuff does get stolen.  Last week, an iPod went missing. It was so dis- heartening because we were fairly certain who took it.  But, as they were confronted, an unpleasant scene evolved, and it was just sad. I prayed that God would show us what to do.  I  ended up in Romans 12 — Never avenge yourselves.  Leave it all to God.  Feed those who steal from you and try to help them in other ways.   Wow!  That is so easy to read and so hard to live! But, it is the way of the kingdom.  The only way of life.  So we follow! And yes, we sent food.