Mungu Tu (Only God)

"Mungu tu.” These two words will forever represent my recent three week trip to Kenya. As ELI’s administrative assistant in the states, I was so blessed to be able to revisit our staff and ministry in Africa, and see first hand again what God is doing there. And let me tell you, He is moving in mighty ways! Throughout my time there, my heart broke for the countless “hopeless” situations I saw, but each time, God would bring a smile of amazement to my broken heart as I saw Him speak hope and life into each situation. Only God could bring the hope, joy, and peace that I saw in the darkest, most hopeless conditions.

I first heard those words of hope, “Mungu tu,” from the half-paralyzed mouth of a man named Timon. Timon is an elderly man dying of AIDS and paralyzed on the right side of his body from a stroke he had six years ago. Unable to really talk or move, Timon sits in a chair at his home all day long. A hopeless and lonely situation? Yes. But against all odds, Timon has hope. Lucky for him, he is part of the ELI home-based care program and receives regular visits from the health care team. Though they can’t cure his disease, this dedicated team can ease his symptoms, share encouragement and scripture with him, hold his hand, and sing Kalenjin praise songs with him. It is amazing how much hope God can bring through those few acts of love. I was blessed to visit Timon with the health care team one day and see the tears of joy that filled his eyes as we approached. He had visitors! He was loved! He was remembered! Tears filled my eyes as we began to sing praises to God. Timon struggled to get the words out of his dysfunctional mouth, but I could see in his eyes that his heart was passionately enunciating every word. I was sitting in the presence of a true worshipper. As I left Timon that morning, he simply kept repeating the words, “Mungu tu.” And I understood. Only God could fill him with the hope and joy that he has. Only God would visit him through the ELI health care team. Only God could shine light into the darkness of his life. Only God could keep him smiling and singing each day.

Timon’s life wasn’t the only place I saw the truth of these words. As I participated in the different branches of ELI’s ministry in Kenya, I experienced constant moments of amazement at the transformation and hope God has brought to the darkest of places. I constantly found myself in situations that left me speechless except for the words, “Only God.” It happened watching 11-year-old Vincent, one of the orphans in the ELI Children’s Home, pray the most passionate, faith-filled prayer I had ever heard. It hit me watching John Mwange, one of ELI’s 6-month students, choosing to live in the slums to bring the gospel and hope to the desperate people there. It happened as I sat in Mary’s home, an AIDS victim with few months left to live, who sang her heart out to God with every last ounce of energy she had. “God is so good,” she sang with conviction, even though I doubt she can think of one personal example of His goodness in her life. She was a widow and about to leave her two kids orphans with no one to feed them, but she continued to trust that God was good. And she continued to praise Him with a smile. There is no explanation of stories like these aside from the words, “Mungu tu.”

The stories go on and on, and I want to thank you for being a part of them. God is using the ministry of Empowering Lives to bring light and hope to the desperate people of Africa. Only a God like ours could speak the life and hope that I saw into the most hopeless of situations. He is radically transforming lives and He is using you to do it as you partner with us. Thank you so much!