The hot African sun beats down on the rusty metal roof of a nondescript mud-walled shed. Behind the large green wooden doors of the shed is Mariam’s little grocery store. This is a far cry from the Walmart supermarkets found scattered across North America, but it is a typical corner store in rural Tanzania. Mariam sells basic items, including soap, matches, soda, candy, and rice.
Several years ago, Mariam and her husband joined a SALT Savings Group when it was introduced in their village. After saving for a year, Mariam bought a piece of farm land next to their house. She saved money for another year and was able to buy the small, mud-walled shed that now serves as her grocery store. As Mariam saves money in the savings group, she keeps adding to the inventory in her store. She raises produce on their farm to sell at the store as well. The income from the store is a blessing to help support their growing family.
She and her husband live in a very basic house made from wood poles with bamboo woven through, and then filled and plastered with mud. They have four children of their own and two children that they have taken in. One of Mariam’s relatives had a child out of wedlock. When the young child’s life was threatened, Mariam and her husband gladly took him in and raised him as their own child. Recently, they opened their home to another unwanted child who is related to Mariam’s husband. When Mariam was asked why she took the children in, she said her heart told her to.
We pray that their understanding of God’s love will continue to grow as they listen to the Biblical lessons in the SALT meetings. When asked what her favorite lesson is in the SALT teaching manual, Mariam said it’s the one about the family devotions. She has taken it on herself to have family devotions with her children.
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