GL OBAL V OI C ES
My Raven by the Brook PRECIOUS COLETTE KEMIGISHA A note from College Church missionary John Maust. Can you describe a time when a Christian friend gave you hope when you most needed it? That was the prompt for a writing contest organized by Media Associates International (MAI) in anticipation of its April LittWorld 2022 conference in Hungary, for which College Church provided generous scholarship support through its Thanksgiving offering. Precious Colette Kemigisha of Uganda won first prize with her article, “My Raven by the Book,” which tells the story of an unexpected friendship that warmed her heart in frigid Scotland as a lonely international student. Notified of her award, Precious said, “I can think of no better way to end the year than knowing that my story touched the hearts of the judges and will also bring hope to many of your readers who will get to read it!”
up to anyone but him because wasn t sure people would understand. One Sunday, having arrived early to make sure grabbed my usual seat on the mezzanine level of the church, right next to the wall, saw a young lady walk down the row and sit a chair away from me. turned to the wall and rolled my eyes in irritation, wondering why she had decided to come as close to me as possible when there were tons of other empty seats to choose from.
Then, to my utter dismay, she turned to me with a huge smile and started chatting! Oh, God! Couldnt she see that just wantedtobeleftalone?hadmasteredtheartofthearti4cia smilefrommyjob,souseditasplottedmyescape.
However, my interest soon grew into curiosity as Natasha told me she had moved from Belarus and had no family or As Colette’s story reminds us, that person sitting beside you in friends in Edinburgh so the church was her main solace. church just might need a “raven by the brook.” You could be saw that her smile reached her eyes, and she was that “raven,” in God’s grace. sincerely interested in what had to say. So, when she asked me if wanted to come to her place for lunch after the service, to my surprise said, Yes! ( The crunch of the snow beneath my feet as walked the didnt know how starved was for true few blocks to my new friend Natasha’s house on that friendship but, of course, my good December evening was the furthest thing from what was Father knew and as we ate her used to. traditional beetroot soup that Under the brilliant sunshine of Kampala, the dust would afternoon, found myself seep into all the pores of my skin and hair with silent opening up like a flower in bloom precision. was used to that, the brown dirt and intense under the rays of the summer sun. heat, so the cold in Edinburgh was still a shock even As had walked to Natashas that December day, af ter a year of living there as pursued my master s smiled. felt a tingle of joy as anticipated the hot meal degree in Literature. that shed prepared for us. was grateful that hadnt run The past few months had passed by in a blur of writing away to my cave of solitude that fateful Sunday when the my dissertation and working at the local theatre in the tall, pretty lady came to sit near me! evenings and weekends to make ends meet. While liked Her friendship was like an oasis in the desert of my my course and the unexpected perk of getting to enjoy loneliness. looked up at the dusk sky and thanked God plays for free during my shifts, my homesickness was like for sending me my very own raven to feed my aching heart a choking grip on my heart that sucked out all the joy and just like He had sent ravens to feed Elijah as he hid in the turned each day grey. cave by the brook. He knew that needed hope and had n church on Sundays, tears streaked my cheeks sent as me a friend to offer hot meals, companionship and, turned towards the wall and worshiped the only friend mainly, laughter, just when needed it most! quickened had, my father God. The sadness made it hard to open my pace. Life was meaningful and good once again!
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