gogo at the gate called beautiful

Acts 3 speaks about a beggar at the gate called beautiful. Let us all refresh ourselves with the story.
Acts 3:1-11

Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.


I’ve had a similar experience here in Swaziland. Every day I walk to the market and see this crippled “gogo” (grandma) sitting right outside the entrance to the market. She will sit on the hard stone floor for hours in the cold with on her light jacket. I’m not quite sure what’s wrong with her legs but I know she can barely walk.
Like I said I see her EVERY DAY but sadly I never acknowledged her. I never greeted her with a “Sawabonai” (Hello) or anything. The Lord quickly started to convict me on this. I told Dustin Anderson to hold me accountable because next time I see her I have to acknowledge her and speak with her. Sure enough about a few hours later we needed to go to the market and there she was in her same spot. Dustin looked at me and said, “There you go! Here is your opportunity!”

So while Dustin went into the market to get our needed items I sat on the ground in the freezing cold next to the gogo and spoke to her. As soon as I sat down she smiled with the biggest smile you could imagine. As if someone finally sees me and acknowledges me. With her huge smile I noticed she had no teeth. She greeted me with a big Sawaboni!!! At this point everyone that is walking by is staring at us. Before this no one seemed to know this gogo existed. She continued to speak in siSwati and she couldn’t understand my English. She quickly found a nearby person to translate. Our translator was this very elegant Swazi woman that seemed to be annoyed at this whole idea of me trying to commutate with cripple gogo. I soon discovered the gogo sits there every day in the freezing weather and knits items to sell. All she had was two sets of turquoise socks which she was trying to sell for 15Rand ($1.50). I bought the socks to support the gogo. It made her day she was so happy. Afterwards I went into the market. When we exited the market she saw me and waved and smiled with her HUGE smile. I had to give her a little something else. I introduced Dustin to my new gogo friend with no translator. She communicated with us that she would buy new yarn with the money I donated to her. We blessed her physically and also spiritually as we left.

I don’t know what it is about this gogo but she has a special place in my heart. I can’t stop thinking about her. Her smile is burned into my head. Ever since I left that market that day I’ve been praying for her constantly.
I met her for the first time yesterday. Today we went to the market and there she was in her spot. Again she me and before I could greet her she waved across the market at me with her huge smile. I went and tried to talk to her but I couldn’t understand a thing.

I’m going to bring this nurse with me in the near future over to the market. She speaks siSwati and she can translate for me. When she comes I plan to pray for her there in the market. I can’t wait to update you when that happens!