The Inspiration for 18 Dollars

Eva, a 20-something single mother of Savage, a fun loving 4 year old Ugandan.

Here's her story...

Once upon a time in Uganda there lived a girl named Eva. Eva ran the restaurant at the Cool Palace motel whose main business came from men staying the night with the woman they had bought for the night. Eva's story began before she was even an afterthought. It turns out that Eva's mother was married and her husband died. As was the tribal custom the clan leaders got together after the funeral and decided that Eva's mother's brother in law (her dead husband's brother) should now be responsible for her wellbeing. Eventually one thing leads to another and the brother in law sleeps with Eva's mom, and was now considered to be his second wife. Eva's mother eventually conceives, and gives birth to Eva much to the first wife's displeasure. Eva's stepmother oppressed Eva's mother to the point that it made living with her daughter an unbearable situation. So, Eva's mother moved out and left Eva to be cared for by her father and stepmother. Since widows in Africa are among the poorest people in the world it was the logical place to leave her daughter.

As a young girl Eva was invited to attend church, and remembered accepting Christ at a young age. Eventually Eva came home and tried to talk to her father and stepmother about Jesus, and eventually Jesus had worn out His welcome. So, Eva was forbidden to return to church. Over the years the church ban would be lifted and re-instituted until it's final time while a youth. At the age of 18 Eva began to go clubbing, started drinking, and met a handsome man, a prince, so she thought. She was eventually seduced, and she conceived a child. After informing her prince Eva was informed that the prince was already married, and in fact married with children. The prince, turned toad, and left Eva to fend for herself. In the mean time Eva's stepmother saw it as her opportunity to finally rid herself of the reminder of her husband's other woman, and moved Eva's father to remove Eva from the home so that she would not corrupt their other children. So, to the street she went. In Uganda there is no such thing as child support, no such thing as government housing, or shelters for women and children. Since she had no recourse against the father of the child in her womb Eva left Jinja, and moved to be with a cousin in Busia. It was at this moment that Eva made an agreement with God. She cried out to Him and pledged her undying faithfulness and even if He were to take the child that she would carry for nine months she would be faithful to Jesus.

In time she found a church that nurtured her new faith and a job. She made a small wage by cooking for a restaurant. This afforded her to rent a decent one room apartment which consisted of a concrete floor and four walls. As the months went by she prayed that God would somehow make a way for her to afford the hospital bills she would incur when her baby was born. The months went by and it came time for her to give birth. She worked all day long and upon laying down to rest for the night the labor pains began, and before she could yell for help there came a tremendous rain storm. The rain was so heavy and the noise was so deafening as it hit the tin roof that no one could hear her screaming in pain as she, by herself, gave birth to her firstborn son on a concrete floor. As soon as Savage, meaning survivor, was born the rain miraculously stopped. And she gave praise and glory to God for sending the storm, so that no one could hear her cry. Odd, you say? Why praise? You see, she had delivered a healthy baby boy without the need of a hospital, and so the bills miraculously never materialized. Savage is now four years old, and he gives the warmest of hugs.

Amazing, but we've still not reached how I came up with the question. So, Eva's story continues. In Uganda there is no minimum wage, and so if you don't sell anything then there is no check. And in a 3rd world country it's not uncommon to go days or even weeks without income. On the last day that four of our team members were there Eva received a tip. To the giver I'm sure it may have seemed like a small gift. It was barely a calculable percentage of the expenses she would incur on her journey. Unbeknownst to the person giving the gift Eva had just been told by her landlord that if she didn't come home that day with three months of back rent that she should expect to be thrown into the street along with her son that evening. That may not sound like a big deal, but Busia is not a beloved little village on the edge of Uganda, but can be a very dangerous place for a beautiful 20-something. The night before Eva remembered her agreement with God and fought a tremendous temptation to steal what she needed from the restaurant's take. She resisted the temptation, refused to take the money and instead prayed long into the night to be delivered from her circumstances. The next morning an unsolicited tip made a life altering impact in the life of a mother and her child. When she realized what had been given to her she rejoiced not in the giver of the gift, but in the Lord in whom she placed her trust. You see she needed exactly 30,000 shillings to escape eviction.
The tip was exactly 30,000 shillings.
30,000 shillings translated into about $18.00.
Rent was $6 a month.

As I reflected on that story and many others like them from my experience in Uganda I was blindsided by the question. I couldn't get away from the question. It has infected everything I think about and has gained control of many of my decisions. Now I want to warn you that this question seems simple and harmless, but as I take you through the question I think you'll see that it can do serious harm to your current way of life.

So, finally the life altering question...are you ready? Here it goes...

"What could, should, would you do with $18.00?"

And so this blog is dedicated to a woman who must live by faith, and to her son.

It is here to challenge people to live simpler, give up more, and take money in $18.00 increments and change a life.

On the posts that follow we'd like to hear what you did, or what God was able to do, with $18.00, or in some cases multiples of $18.00 (10 multiples of 18 would be $180.00). We can suggest some places to check out, but in the end we just want you to do something.

Note that we will moderate comments so yours won't appear immediately, but should within a day or two.

Some other places to visit and support include:

www.ijm.org (Frees people from oppression, especially child sex slaves, and rehabilitates them)

www.tomsshoes.com (Donate a pair, or buy a pair and donate a pair to a child)

www.compassion.com (Support a child in poverty)

www.worldconcern.org (An international relief agency)

www.worldvision.com (or go here to donate to Bangladesh Cyclone relief)
(Free Josh Groban Christmas CD for giving $25)

www.promisekidsafuture.com (Actually support an orphan in Uganda, or adopt one)

www.bloodwatermission.com (Jars of Clay ministry to clean the blood and water in Africa)

www.harmonychristianchurch.com