There is a young 17-yr-old woman named Happiness (Nobojulo), who attends the family center every single day. I had met her at the beginning, but had not had the chance to really get to know her story and who she is. Yesterday, I had the chance of having a one-on-one with her. I greeted her in the morning and asked her how she was doing and stuff… just small talk.. And we both started getting more comfortable with each other. She wants to be a hair stylist one day so she was braiding and playing with my hair for a while. When it came to be around lunch time, she asked me if I wanted to eat lunch in the backyard with her and so we went in the back and she got two chairs and we sat down. I just started asking questions about her life….
I asked her about her parents and she shared that they both died a few years ago. I do not know how her dad died but she said her mom killed herself from drinking poison at work… and that her mom wanted to die. Happiness went on to say that her brother is in jail because he attempted to hijack a car…and she does not have a relationship with him at all. As she was telling me these horrible things that have happened to her family… I noticed she said a lot of this with no emotions involved… it was just reality for her. Looking at her, I honestly would have never guessed this was her life. She lives on her own and is struggling every single day to get by. She is looking for a job and says it is very tough to find one around where she lives. She says that she barely has enough money for food and relies solely on the family center to provide her meals. 
On the weekends, she goes without food because she has no money…. Hearing all of this, I could not help but to tear up in front of her. All of these things, a young teenager should not have to deal with… It got me questioning why her??…. I told her that I cannot even imagine the way she lives. I told her that I have not realized all the blessings that I have in my life and that I have taken them for granted after hearing what she has said…That I do not know what it is like to not have food…to not have a family waiting for me when I come home…to not have someone there to take care of me. I don’t know why she has to live like this and I don’t. At this point we both were in tears. It broke my heart that she has to deal with all of these hardships. … But the light at the end of the tunnel is that she has God. I was reminded by one of my favorite verses, Jeremiah 29:11.. “For you know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” I told her that God did not place her in this place for a reason and that he has a purpose for her life. I prayed with her and thanked her for sharing all of this with me.
She said that she doesn’t talk about all of this a lot and that she feels better when she does.Happiness is truly a blessing to me. She makes me want to strengthen my faith in God. Her determination to keep going and make the most of what she has is beyond inspiring. After lunch, she took me to her house so I could see it! It was probably a
20-minute walk from the family center and she lives in the same house she lived in when her parents were still alive. I was very impressed with how well she has kept the house and how tidy it was. She lives out of a suit case and as I was looking around her room, I noticed a list of things that she wanted to buy as soon as she had money… The list included the following items: toothpaste, deodorant, potatoes, maize meal, etc… just the basic necessities to get by… Something cool that hung on the wall right across her bed was an isiZulu phrase and she explained to me the English translation: That when you face hardships and struggles, to give them up to the Lord. : )
Happiness also shared that she has a 3 year old son! I got to meet him because she brought him to the family center yesterday : )
He is a bundle of joy and looked so much like his mom. But it hit me that she has to struggle to provide for him when she can barely provide for herself. Please keep Happiness in your prayers. I wish you all could meet her… I cannot even think of her without tearing up… She has definitely made an impact on my life and I am so thankful that God crossed our paths together. At my final day yesterday, I received a note from Happiness which warmed my heart so much...She calls me my zulu name, "Gugu" (which means precious) and she wrote in this letter, "Gugu, thanx 4 everything u've done 4 us God bless you... luv you alot! Gugu if I die or travel so far I will write your name in the sky so that everybody can see how much you mean 2 me. 4rm: Happiness" This note is one of the best gifts I have ever received... I am so humbled by this whole experience...
Love, Jamie
This one could be my favorite entry but I'd probably say that about others too. I just read it for the 2nd time and the tears pour out. When she says she would "write your name in the sky" it's as if she has removed the flesh, muscle and bone from around her heart so that you can most easily see what her heart really looks like. This is a very special child of God and in your eyes she sees her true reflection. It's no wonder she feels so special in your presence! Do you remember "Narcissus" from the book "The Alchemist?" He was the one who knelt by the lake every day, staring at his own reflection and pondering his own beauty. When he fell into the lake and drowned one day, someone asked the lake if Narcissus was truly beautiful since the lake saw him staring at his reflection in it every day. Do you remember the lake's response? "The lake was silent for a time. Finally it said: "I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that Narcissus was beautiful. I weep because each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected." You have shown Happiness her true and beautiful reflection with the eyes of your heart Jamie! She was honored by you and you were lifted to a new level as one who serves the King and who will no doubt continue to find the greatest joy in life in doing so wherever you are! How I love you young woman of God! Yes I do!
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