A Diet Coke in a Thirsty Land

By Lisa LaLonde

On my first trip to Kenya, I was craving a Diet Coke. I explained to the boys in the orphanage we were visiting that I could not drink the sodas they had purchased especially for us, as they all had sugar in them. They were not familiar with diabetes, but soon began to understand that I had dietary limitations. We were being treated like honored guests, so it was hard to have to say “No, thank you.” to their offers of sugared drinks. I was getting used to drinking warm bottled water. But there were days I really wanted a Diet Coke.

I was with a team from my church, and we were there to spend time with the boys and to be family for them. Each day was spent in laughter and song and sharing our lives with children who kept asking about life in a country across the world and so foreign in every way. For them, treats were rare. On our last day there, we had prepared a feast for them. We had gone to the market and purchased all things that the boys never got to eat: popcorn and meat and orange sodas. We bought cases and cases of orange sodas, enough for 60 boys to drink. When we got back to the orphanage, the team started to distribute the goodies. Suddenly, there was a commotion around the cases of orange soda. Excited hands produced something that didn’t belong there. In amongst all the glass bottles of orange soda was…..one Diet Coke. The boys all knew who should get it.

As I sipped my warm, delicious Diet Coke, I had to wonder where I was. Beyond communication, beyond home, beyond family, and still my Father in Heaven sent me a Diet Coke. It was no small thing in a thirsty land.

But like all good Fathers, he likes to keep giving. On my next trip to Kenya I was there longer. I went to the girls orphanage first, then to CFOI. By the time I got to CFOI, I was wanting a Diet Coke again. It made me smile, because really I wasn’t craving one, I was just wanting one. It made me remember how God had supplied. One day I shared the Miracle Diet Coke story with Narelle. She enjoyed it and we laughed about God’s provision. It was the last day of CFOI, and she excused herself and I made my way to the Sharing Time which was to close the camp. I was waiting contentedly, not expecting any miracles, when suddenly Narelle was before me. There was a small Diet Coke in her hand. “This was in my luggage. I don’t even drink Diet Coke, so I don’t know why I bought this. But I carried it all this way, and now I know why. Here’s your Diet Coke.”

The only one who can make me speechless is God. I gawked at that Diet Coke like it was gold. Narelle grinned and moved off to find her seat. I held the small silver can like it was from a far away planet. But then something in me became like the boys who had found the first miracle Diet Coke. They knew who it was for. I knew who this was for. It was a lot more than a favorite drink. It was a message. There is no place you can go from my Spirit, says the Lord! Where can you go where I do not know your every need, even when you don’t voice them?

I saved that Diet Coke for another week, waiting for the moment when I really wanted it. By the time I drank it, in the company of my new family at the boys orphanage, it meant so much more than God meeting a desire. It meant He was with me and would always be with me.

© 2005 Lisa B. LaLonde