my neighbor

The second day here we went to see a family that we just love. They have girls that play with our kids and they have just taken us in and loved on us. As I sat with the women, (some of the time we were actually together and some of the time the women were separate) they told me how afraid they had been and how hard life was for them. My heart cried out as they talked about the days and days when they only had maybe 30 min. of electricity a day. and then having to listen to all the fighting at night. At one point that night the mom got up and left the room and came back in with an AK-47 (the gun of choice here) and put it under the mattress she was sitting on. When I looked at her, she just said we were very afraid during all the fighting. I really can't understand living in such fear, with no hope. Please pray that I would have the words to say to these women.
We stayed and visited for about 5 hours and we ate dinner with them. beans and bread. I went to the tiny kitchen to learn how to make this bean dish (everyone hear eats this). As I stood in the kitchen my heart I was overwhelmed by how little this people have. they basically shop for what they need everyday. They had a little tiny fridge, but it no longer worked, they had had an oven/stove, but it no longer worked. So the daughter was cooking with three little burners basically on the floor. We crushed all the spices by hand and mashed the beans, she stood bent over the pot stirring for a long time! They also had no running water. They poured a little water out of the jug she had into a sink to wash the tea cups we had used earlier so that we could use them again.
I realized how little I really have to complain about. As I came back to my house, just on the next street, it doesn't look on the outside much different from theirs, yet mine has a nice kitchen with a stove, running water, a fridge and even a microwave. My heart sank as I thought about these women, what a hard life they lead here and no hope for a better eternity.
Please pray for this family and especially for the oldest daughter, when she was little she got really sick and I couldn't understand exactly what happened but she lost the use of one leg. Even though they treat her well, she rarely leaves the house, if ever. Someone did teach her to read and so she does that and she seems very bright. My heart just broke for her as I thought of how trapped she must feel. Yet she is so kind to me and invites me in and makes me feel so welcome there.