Chapter 7 - Page 94 - Jim's Promise

   Jim watched her go. He loved her teenage energy and her fun-loving humor. Rhasha, he thought, is going to be a handful.

   He took off his bathrobe and put his dress suit on. Then he knocked on the bathroom door. “Rhasha,” he said loudly, “are you going to take all day?”

   “Go away,” she yelled, knowing he was teasing. “You’re bothering me.”

   While Jim waited for Rhasha, he stepped out into the front yard. He could see children playing ball in the street. Down the street, a family was walking to the dining hall. People stood in front of the hospital, talking. Everywhere Jim looked, he could see healthy African people, laughing and playing.

   The sky above the village was clear, but in the distance, he saw heavy rain clouds. He gazed across the village at the tops of the houses. The thatched straw roofs and bamboo frameworks stood as monuments to Jim’s love for God. People seem to be happy as they live life one day at a time, Jim thought.

   Jim was happy with the way the village had turned out. No one did without food or clothing and everyone had a place to live. People were donating their time to help in the dining hall. Others helped in the hospital. Goodwill seemed to be everywhere and anger was rarely seen.

   Jim formed a mental picture of God sitting on his throne in heaven. Silently, he thanked God for sending him to Africa. He praised God for all He had done. When Jim opened his eyes, he saw six small children running to meet him. None of them could have been over ten years old.

   As two of the boys roughhoused, pushing each other around playfully, a young girl looked seriously at Jim.