Enett tells us, ‘I like Joshua 1:9. It says: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” And it doesn't matter where it is you want to go to: stay strong and be courageous.’ It is something Enett’s mom used to remind her of. ‘“You are stronger than you think,” she used to tell me. “And when you feel weak, just be strong and courageous. God is always with you.”’
Now, through word and deed, Enett tells the same thing to her own daughter.
The family has been facing some challenges, but even in the midst of it, Enett has been strong and courageous – helping to make a difference in the lives of people facing poverty all around the world.
Recently, the 68-year-old pharmacist and grandmother of two (one of whom is called Joshua) set herself the challenge of walking ten kilometres every day for ten days to raise money for Tearfund’s work.
And so, she did.
Walking with Tearfund
Enett has been a Tearfund supporter for many years. When she first came to London from Malawi, she heard about a Tearfund-supported nurse working in the hospital where Enett had been born. From then on, Enett felt that she needed to be involved with Tearfund. (She even got in touch with the nurse the next time she visited Malawi!)
Over the years, that involvement has included being a salesperson for Tearcraft, which was a programme that Tearfund ran for a long time to sell items made by people as part of our projects around the world. Enett also went to Thailand to meet some of the women making the items she was selling to sow money back into the work.
More recently, Enett has been part of her church’s Big Quiz Night. This is one of Tearfund's annual fundraising events that hundreds of churches around the country (and sometimes further abroad) get involved with.* But, this year, Enett decided to do something different. So, she came up with her walking challenge.
Church family
‘My church has always supported me,’ says Enett. ‘And when I put out the information that I was going to do this, a lot of them donated amazingly and, when they saw me, gave me hugs. I was just so overwhelmed. They are an amazing, supportive church – the best family anyone could have.’
Over the ten days of walking, Enett tested out different routes in her neighbourhood, got freezing cold, got stuck in a crowd of local football fans on one occasion, and also made the painful mistake of wearing the wrong shoes on one day, but she did not give up!
‘I am grateful it didn't rain as much as I thought it would,’ Enett tells us. ‘On the first day, there was a huge downpour. But, I was ready for it. I had my raincoat on and it only lasted ten minutes. And the rest of the time, it was just cold but not wet. So, I was really grateful for that. I know people were praying for me to have good weather. So that was a great answer to prayer. I don't normally like to be rained on. But, I thought to myself, well come rain or shine, I'm going to do this. And I was spared the rain. So that was good.’
