Marvin loves Jacey.
On the first morning at Beacon, our matatus pulled into the dirt courtyard and we all piled out, apprehensive and excited and amazed. For most of us, this was our first visit to the place that we had so often heard and talked about and worked for. And now here they were: the children, pouring out of that hallway in their navy sweaters and navy gingham dresses and shirts, their faces full of anticipation and curiosity.
We loved them in advance of coming, but the reality of showing that love required hesitation: we needed to respect their natural fear of so many wazungu, so many strange and white faces descended on them from Heaven Knew where. We knew we had a whole week with them, but we’ve all learned from experience how short a week can be.
And so, for the most part, we stood and looked at one another and smiled. And then it was time for our meeting.
The meeting room is at the end of Beacon’s main hall, and we were sitting there together, chatting, waiting, when the door opened and Marvin walked in.
Marvin might be three years old. It’s hard to know. Very often these children are smaller than another child of the same age might be in the States. But I’m guessing that Marvin is three. He has close-cropped hair and very wide eyes, and he made his way into the room for reasons we’ll never know. He went right over to Jacey.
I think Jacey was just as surprised as the rest of us, but it was Jacey whom Marvin wanted. He stood close to her, he touched her arm, and within a few moments he was sitting on her lap. He sat there for the entire meeting, and many, many times over the days that followed Marvin was sitting with her again.
Jacey simply accepted this. What else is one going to do? It is a gift, after all, isn’t it? to be chosen like this and loved by one such as Marvin, who is so shy and reluctant to speak, who watches everyone from a distance and is happier to be sitting quietly than engaged in William and Everett’s raucous games in the courtyard.
We all found people to engage with at Beacon of Hope. That was, in truth, the reason we went. But in this instance especially we had to give our love in the way people wanted it, and not force our culture or habits on others, and certainly not expect that they would simply accept or understand our perspective.
And so it seemed a special gift that Marvin should love Jacey the way he did, and simply be willing to let Jacey love him.
