During our first trip to Kenya way back in 2008 I met a sweet girl, Susie (not her real name).  Susie had a bright smile every time I made eye contact with her and she never shied away from one of my big hugs.  As a matter of fact she gave as good as she got!  I still see her from time to time and every time I do it’s the same bright smile.  I’m not sure if I’ll see her after this term as it is Susie’s last term of the year and then she will graduate primary school and go on to secondary school.

I recently learned Susie is HIV positive and has been since birth.  What really touched me about her story is her grandmother.  I met grandma on a couple different occasions  and she too always has a nice smile and a firm handshake to greet me.  She doesn’t speak much English so she usually just says “Susie’s grandmother” so I know who she is.  Susie is a “total orphan” (a term used here to say she has no parents) and is being cared for by grandma.  Although grandma is elderly, she comes once a month to pick up Susie (she boards at school), take her to Nairobi for ARV’s then back to school.

The love grandma has for Susie is evident not only in the way she looks at her but in her actions.  Grandma is one of the people I referred to in a previous post where it seems God has breathed His a precious gift upon them both…His love and the ability to show that love to others.