Abandoned, But Not Alone

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 Corinthians 5:1.

Money was tight for Safiya’s family, so when a job opportunity in South Africa was offered to her father, he willingly accepted in order to provide for his family, leaving Safiya with her mom and brother in Zimbabwe. For two years, Safiya’s father kept in touch, frequently sending money and notes to the family, and visiting home whenever he could. 

But the money became less and less frequent, until it stopped coming altogether. Even still, Safiya would wait for the mail to be delivered, hoping for an envelope from her father filled with money and a letter addressed to her. When Safiya was 13, a letter finally came, but instead of the usual, ‘I miss you’, the envelope held news that her father had married another woman in South Africa and would never be coming home. 

Safiya’s mom was overcome by grief, and sent Safiya and her brother to live with their uncle in hopes that he could support the children. Now separated from both her mom and dad, Safiya and her brother live in the care of an uncle who is unkind and unsympathetic, often threatening to stop paying for their schooling if the children ask for the supplies they need. 

But praise be to God that by listening to Bridge to Freedomat her school’s Freedom Club, Safiya has begun to process her own story by hearing the character’s similar experiences to her own. Even though Safiya’s family is still broken, she is finding hope in the RiverCross community. 

*Although the stories we share are true, some identifying details have been changed.