Rain Boots

Missing rain boots wasn’t the most tragic thing that had happened in my life. However, I was fond of my rain boots, I had gone on a long quest looking for the perfect pair. They had black and white designs, complete with a nice buckle at the top. I was styling in those rain boots. You can imagine my concern when they went missing. Yes, I had been the one to leave them outside my door to dry but the thought that they may up and walk away did not cross my mind…Considering that Africa has two seasons: rainy and dry, my concern was justified. Thankfully, it didn’t rain for a while and my worries over my missing rain boots were mixed into the sludge of all that was consuming my thoughts. As I went for a run to clear my thoughts a few weeks later I stopped and prayed for myself and the girls. I prayed specifically for a girl I had become close to named Naomie. She had been having a rough time since I arrived at MITS and for some reason she had cleaved to me the past weeks like my long lost twin. She may be 17, but she thought I was her new mom. Naomie had a known reputation and very few friends, thanks to her reputation. I had been told she had no family and had been thrown from one children’s home to the next since she was little. Naomie has a tattoo on her arm that her mother gave her when she was three. I prayed that our relationship may grow and that I may have more chances to talk to her one on one, that I may be able to help her through whatever issues she was dealing with. That I may be a constant friend that wouldn’t waiver despite what she had done or would do. As I ended my run, I walked to the gait to knock and finished my prayer for Naomie. After a few knocks with no answer, I peered through the peephole into the girl’s compound. I didn’t see anyone. Except for Naomie, crouched down, leaning against the wall, and crying. God answered my prayer with impressive speed. Once I was let in the gate, I asked her if she wanted to come over to our apartment and talk. She said yes, and we spent the next hour painting nails and toenails and listening to music. She didn’t want to talk about what was upsetting her so I didn’t push. I told her if she ever did want to talk that she knew where to find me. We prayed together and then she left. I wasn’t sure how to feel, she hadn’t talked much, and I felt like I probably hadn’t done anything to really improve the situation. I couldn’t help but wonder if I had done any good. About 10 minutes later, there was a knock on our door. Kristin answered it and when she closed the door, there were a pair of black and white designed rain boots in her hands. I was more than excited to see my long lost rain boots, I didn’t think I would see them anytime soon. “Naomie brought these by,” she said as she handed them over. And with a pair of rain boots, I knew that the things we do, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem, can make a difference.