Allison Chirume

Allison Chirume has been a missionary in Africa for eighteen years, her ministry taking her from Mozambique to South Africa to Zimbabwe, providing mentorship and discipleship to young, pregnant women. She is passionate about giving them the practical knowledge they need as young mothers while also introducing them to Jesus.

When to Pull a U-Turn

After a few months in Cape Town, being a missionary wasn’t going quite how Allison had imagined. She was surrounded by suffering but had no idea specifically how God wanted her to help.

The morning Allison met Katie began like any other, worshipping the Lord and reading the Word. Then she repeated her daily plea: “What are you up to here, Lord, and how can I be a part of it?” With that, she headed off to another long day of children’s ministry. 

She knew her work with abandoned children was important, but it didn’t capture her full heart and soul. At work, Allison did her best to play with the kids, but her mind kept drifting to these children’s parents: What had driven them to abandon their children? Why hadn’t anyone helped them before they reached that level of desperation? More than 3,500 children were abandoned in South Africa each year. It all felt overwhelming.

When it was time to get back into her white Subaru and head home, Allison was grateful. Driving through the busy coastal town, stopping at a few lights, barely noticing the many people milling around, she was operating on autopilot. 

Then Allison saw her: a thin teenager with a bandana around her head, baggy jeans, a loose jersey, and light-brown skin. And the girl had a baby on her hip. As Allison drove past, the Holy Spirit told her to turn around.

Could this be the answer to her daily plea to join God’s work in this place? But she had been told over and over not to pick up hitchhikers. And she knew the reputation of these kinds of girls. They hung out on street corners, begging for money, turning tricks if need be, and returning any income to their pimps in exchange for drugs. Yet, God had clearly spoken to her. 

She pulled a U-turn.

When she drove up next to the girl, Allison noticed that the girl’s two front teeth had been pulled out, a cultural display of toughness. But, if that didn’t matter to God, Allison wouldn’t let it bother her either. She opened her door and invited the girl in. Her name was Katie.

“What do you need?” Allison asked. “My baby is hungry,” Katie answered.

Allison took one look at the adorable nine-month-old baby girl with beautiful, curly hair and dirty, tattered clothes, and she knew what to do next.

Allison parked in front of a small, local market and gestured for Katie to come in with her. But Katie stood awkwardly by the entrance. Allison was confused, but busied herself picking out fruits, vegetables, yogurt, bread, and milk. 

The atmosphere in the store grew tense. The workers looked at Katie with disdain, glaring at her and keeping their distance. And they shook their heads at Allison, the stupid foreigner falling victim to a drugged-out, prostitute’s games. It was no matter—God had spoken, and Allison had acted. She could handle a little discomfort along the way. 

They got back in the car, and Katie asked to be dropped off at the next intersection. When Allison offered to take her home, Katie was shocked. She directed Allison to a side of town she’d never been to before. The streets were so narrow and winding that Allison had to guide the Subaru's wheels onto the curb to navigate the turns. It was obvious that few vehicles ever reached this area. 

Allison pulled up in front of a rickety, old apartment building with old men sitting on the steps, smoking marijuana. They stared at Allison as she followed Katie up to the third floor and entered a ten-by-four feet apartment , smelling like smoke. 

A tough-looking man covered in tattoos sat in the corner, and Katie immediately handed him all the bags. Allison’s heart dropped: Would the baby get any of the food? There was a heavy silence as Katie quickly ushered Allison out.

When they reached her car, Allison said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Katie didn’t reply. But God did. As Allison drove off, God impressed Luke 10:6 on her heart, “If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you” (NIV). Allison knew her next step: she was going to find out if Katie was her person of peace.

So, day after day, week after week, Allison drove that winding road that was never meant to be driven on. She pulled up in front of the decrepit apartment building, and she asked for Katie. After a while, people would tell her where Katie was before she could even ask. 

Eventually, Katie introduced Allison to her best friends: three rough-and-tough sisters. One of them had a very scratchy voice because her sister had stabbed her in the neck. The four of them would “jump cars” together at night, making money any way they could. But, when Allison found them during the day, they had all sorts of questions for her. They soaked up any advice Allison had about raising their children. Sometimes Allison would write Bible verses for them on index cards, and days later they would pull them out of their pockets, curious about their meaning.

Katie granted Allison access to a hard-to-reach group of gang members, prostitutes, drug addicts, and thieves. As their friendship unfolded, God gave Allison a new passion for helping young moms. This was the seed of Allison’s now-flourishing, mommy-mentoring ministry.

“As has just been said: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion’” (Hebrews 3:15 NIV).