11 THE TESTIMONY

Shawney couldn't help but observe the furrowing of his brow in confusion. To give him a clearer view of what she meant, she explained, "Well as you said before, I am ready to travel which I love very much. I feel stifled when I stay in one place for too long."

Seeing his puzzlement growing gradually, Shawney continues, "Sir, what you don't know is, that I visit small villages doing missionary work. Sometimes I stay a week in a village, sometimes longer. Anywhere night meet me I sleep. I have no particular place to stay, sleep, or visit."

Train was stunned by what he heard, becoming very concerned and worried, he queried, "And child, how did your Dad accept that?" 

When she chuckles and responds, "Mister, I never told my Dad how rugged it was out there. He begged me to leave my home because of how my family ill-treated me, so I left. What was there to tell?"

Train recalled the words her uncle was sharing with the others, they all believed it was a lie but hearing the child saying the very same thing caused his heart to faint a bit.

Ignoring his silence Shawney smiled and said, "Sir, the truth is, I never told him what I faced out there because he would worry. What I didn't expect though, was to return to an empty house. Now I have nothing to stay here for any longer."

Hearing the sadness in her voice, he realized. 'How hard it must have been for her all alone. When I thought my child had suffered a lot, this child had to endure so much more, and she is so strong.' "But child, you have your brothers and sisters, and your Uncle loves you a lot."

Shawney smiled, concealing how her family treated her, she alone knew how these ungrateful families loved her, she alone knew how much she had to endure because of them. She alone knew how difficult it was to leave he dad and her comfortable home and face the gruesome world without any support. 

"I know and understand they love me in their ways, and Sir, at times I even get homesick. Now, I am sure you have observed how they express their love to me. Living on the road it's so much different, and I can say satisfying at times, but I don't mind."

Train wanted to comfort her seeing how broken she was, the tears behind her beautiful peach-blossom eyes were covered by her fake smile. "But child, what sort of life will you have living on the street like that? When you have all the comfort right here in your own home?"

Shawney felt her heart pierce, 'someone who didn't know her could understand, yet the people she slaved over for years only took her for granted.'

"I understand fully well what you are saying Sir, and I even appreciate your concern. You see Mister. at the end of the day, I help someone who is in need when I am on the road. Home here is different, all of them only want, and give nothing in return. Which I detest very much, but they are my family and I love them very much. I like what I do, and it is very rewarding at times." 

"You mean like your father's inheritance?"

Train noticed her hesitation before she began speaking. When she said, "Not exactly Mister, this is an inheritance my parent left for me. As you may know already it's my money that was invested. But when you help people that are really in need. There is this joy deep within that makes you feel fulfilled, and gives you great satisfaction."

Train couldn't believe what he was hearing, "Let me share this small testimony with you, then you might have a better understanding of what I am talking about. Mister once I was visiting this little village. It had this elderly woman, she could barely move around, and she was happy to have someone to talk to. So, I sit and talk with her for a long while. As time slowly slipped away I became hungry. Sir, all that woman had to offer me was a glass of water, which I took thanking God." 

"I had only drunk half when she started coughing. Hurrying to get her some water from her kitchen. Only to realize that it was the last she had and her cupboards were empty. I hurried back to her giving her the remaining water from my glass. Mister, I could not leave her in the condition she was in. So I stayed with her that night, only to learn later that night as we spoke. The only means of getting water was when the rain fell, and it didn't fall in months. All her children live around her but they are busy with their own families and they ignore her."

"Mister, I had prayed silently that night that the Lord would send rain and fill all her empty barrels. It was not too long after the rain began falling and it filled all her barrels. I didn't hesitate at the time knowing that God had heard my prayer. I wash all her barrels and let it full."

"Every can and bucket, Mister everything that could hold water I filled it up and covered it. When I leave her home a week later you won't believe the beautiful gift the woman gave me. All because I bathe her, wash and clean her home, make her groceries, cook and feed her. She was so much stronger and was able once more to help herself." 

Holding his hand she says, "The people we trust the most, and make them feel we depend on them. They are the ones that hurt us the most. You may ask why I say that, it is because all that elderly woman had, she distributed among her children and grandchildren equally. And in return no one used to offer her a mouthful of food or a drink of water. Yet she had given to them in the hope that they would care for her. So tell me, why is it they couldn't attend to her needs?"