I got to go and visit Momma Clementine yesterday morning. She is a single mom that Rich and Robin met a few months ago. Here’s how they met. Robin notice two young children (3 & 5 years old) walking down the street along. They both had tiny babies tied on their backs. Robin thought they were dolls tied to the children’s back but upon further examination they were twin baby girls! There was no momma in sight! Through a God-ordained set of circumstances, they finally met Momma Clementine.
She has eight children, the youngest is the baby twin girls. There is another set of twins that are about 8 or 10 years old, John Damascene and John Claude. The oldest is a girl named Clementine. (Momma’s are known by the first name of their first born; hence Momma Clementine.) There are four more, unfortunately I can’t remember all the names right now. However, there is a Patrick who is about 3 and a Claudette who is probably 8 or 9.
Before visiting Momma C. we went to the place where Rich and Robin found them. It’s amazing that someone could live there (however, there is another family that has moved in to this place already but that’s another story for another day). There are basically no walls to this place only some foundational supports and a very leaky roof. There is no furniture, everyone sleeps on the ground or on a piece of cardboard if they are lucky enough to find one. The cook pot is just a little pot over a tiny fire. The food, some carrots, potatoes, and whatever else they can find are sitting on the ground close to the fire. Honestly, if you don’t see it with your own eyes you cannot fathom the conidtions.
We made it on down to Momma C.’s apartment. Rich and Robin were fortunate to find the apartment for Momma and are paying for it now. It’s not much, but it’s dry, relatively clean (as Momma is very conscientious to keep her house, her family, and herself neat and tidy), and relatively safe. The children are thriving now. Rich and Robin says the newborn twins which are about 2 – 3 months old have doubled in weight since they have met them. The other children are doing well, too. Clementine, the oldest, is in school and Rich and Robin have found a tutor to come and help the other children get up to speed in their education. The tutor also helps mentor Momma C.
Momma C. is not a Christian yet. She is working her way there, though, I’m sure. One amazing thing she said to Rich and Robin is that she can see the love of Jesus through the work they are doing and through the things our mission team is doing to help her out.
The love of Jesus isn’t just what we preach about. The love of Jesus is something we live out! It’s easy to preach or teach about the love of Jesus, but I have to believe we’re called to so much more. I have to believe that we are called to live out the love of Jesus every day, whether we’re in Kigali, Rwanda or Pembroke, New Hampshire.
Mother Theresa once said, “if you can’t feed 100 families, then feed 1.” Momma C. is Rich and Robin’s ‘one’!
