Joseph’s Smile

Yesterday I journeyed out with two Tree of Lives workers, Doreen and Josephine to the slums for a home visit.  Three hours from Nazareth and several Matatu rides later, we finally arrived at the home of Joseph.  Joseph was HIV positive and also had suffered from a CVA, leaving him with impaired speech and difficulty walking.  Joseph lost his wife 3 years ago and he and his three children lived in a single metal room.  In addition to housing his family, this small room also held a store in which the proceeds were used to feed the family.  Joseph was a man of little possessions, however had more faith than any one person I have ever met.  He was thankful to God for all he had and truly trusted him with the healing of his disease.  Joseph received food packets from Tree of Lives to supplement what he was unable to provide for his children.   When learning I was from Norfolk, his face immediately lit up and he couldn’t thank me enough of all our church family and Trees of Lives had provided him with.  The small amount of food included in these food packets made a huge difference in Joseph’s life.  We hear so much about Tree of Lives in Jim Wood’s sermons each Sunday morning, but you can never imagine the true blessing of this ministry until seeing the smile on someone’s face like Joseph.

by Laurie Leonard, a member of First Presbyterian Church in Norfolk, Virginia.