THE 'I NEED A FAVOUR' GIRL

A friend posted this, and I thought I would share it with you. We often have our perceptions about people based on what they look like and how they interact with us, without knowing what they do or why they are the way they are.

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I AM AN 'I NEED A FAVOUR' GIRL??

(a bit of a long read I needed to let it out??)

I've stayed in villages and cities, and no matter where I settle, the neighborhood children will always find a way to my house, especially the neglected, hungry children. For years, I have been sharing my food with neglected neighborhood kids. I share my toiletry, clothes, and little money with the lonely old man 2 houses from me, the old lady whose children have forgotten, and the unemployed mother of 5 whom everyone ridicules because of 5 runaway fathers. I give sanitary pads to students, teens, and unemployed ladies. There is a strong magnetic force that draws people in dire need to my direction, which I can't explain. And I am not rich, finances are scarce, but I always share the little I have. You come to my house, you'll most likely find 7-8 kids eating lunch in a big plate I've cooked for them. My house has been a 'soup kitchen' for a while now.

Some said, 'why do you feed these kids? You're not even related! Where are their mothers? You must lock the gate and send them home. They're finishing your food, kana you have 2 kids.' I know. But God spies on my kitchen. He spies on my wallet. Sometimes He warns me in advance He'll be sending them my way. I'd have a dream where I see 5 kids sitting on my front porch waiting for me. A few minutes later, I'll see 5 young strangers in my yard & I'll understand the assignment. Sometimes I'll yell, "Haii, not this again. I'm tired. I'm broke right now. You are sending me kids AGAIN to feed with what money??' Then go to the kitchen and start cooking ????lol. A child will shyly whisper in my ear, "Aunty, do you have size 3 shoes? I walk barefoot, but these days it's very hot, my feet get burnt....or...do you have soup/potato/tomato/cooking oil so I can cook phaleche at home...or...can I have this small toy car I've never had a toy." I don't even blink- I give straightaway. My heart can't ever not act.??????

But in times when I don't have, that's where the 'I need a favor' girl comes out. I think of someone who is privileged and make the call/send the text. Normally, it's a text cause I get embarrassed at times. 'Hi. Do you have P100, I'm in a desperate situation.' Some help out, some don't. That's okay. When they send, I go straight to PEP to get Size 3 sandals or a braai pack for the old man next door, or veggies or sanitary pads for the girls in need because I don't have them myself. The other time, I inboxed an Indian guy I had seen donating food hampers during COVID-19, asking for pads. All because 2 teenage students stopped me asking for sanitary pads (not money) and I was broke at the time but asked them to come see me the next day. The Indian gentleman instantly responded and drove my way to hand me 3 big boxes of Always pads, which I donated to students and unfortunate women in my hood.

Last Friday, my 17-year-old Zimbabwean neighbor asked me for a phaleche, but I didn't have it. He's a fantastic kid. I've been helping him with food for the past 2 years because I know he struggles. I was ashamed to make the call but I gulped once and did it. 'Hi. I'm at the mall I was doing small grocery and ran out of money. Can I please have P100 for a braai pack..??????' And they helped out. I got a 5kg Spar maize meal @P35 on special, some soups, mixed vegetables from street vendors, chicken gizzards & livers for him. I'm exceptional at budgeting. This morning I gave them to him. He was very grateful as always. He works very hard doing piece jobs cleaning people's yards, removing rubble, watering plants etc, just to eat.

As he walked away, I felt this deep sorrow. Like people are suffering, man. People are hungry. Children are hungry. It's dark, and it's been too long without light??. These are people who don't care about designer clothes/phones/cars. They just want food. Their main focus is to eat and not die of hunger or malnutrition, that's it. But God, my heart can't take this anymore. You keep placing me right in the center of it all, of these lives- every time. You set me up. I fall for it. And you know I'll definitely do something to help cause you trust my heart. You designed it, programmed it to tug and weep at a hungry plea. And that, if I speak raw honesty, that crushes me. It makes me angry, it makes me impatient, it makes me sad like what can I do to truly help these people permanently????They're not lazy, they're not evil, they're not leeches. They just need a lucky break. This suffering overwhelms me??????

So yeah, I'm that girl??????. I'm not a slay queen; I'm not going to buy a frontal wig or a dress or booze. I bought my neighbor soup. Gave your P50 to that unemployed graduate so she can print CVs and drop them off. Today, my spirit felt down. Cause I don't know where all this leads. Will it end? Been doing it silently for years. This cross is very, very heavy; there is no glory here ??. No glitter ????, no fancy shine??????. It's life and death. It's no job for a small girl. I'm also trying to find my own way. I'm too broken, and I'm tired. I have no energy??Give me a break; I can't be a sacrifice?. Give rich people sleepless nights to help the poor. Why don't they help? Are they blind to the sufferings of others? Why would you use a poor person to feed the poor? Make it make sense. It's been too long. How much longer???