The story of Zuri is set in a quiet village nestled in the hills of East Africa. There lived a young woman named Zuri; her name meant “beautiful” in Swahili, and she lived up to it—not only in her outward appearance but also in her heart, which radiated with kindness and compassion. Zuri came from a humble family known for their skills in weaving baskets and tending to crops. They lived in harmony with the land, respecting nature and its Creator.
Though her village was steeped in tradition, Zuri always felt a stirring in her heart. She had heard stories about a great God who created the heavens and the earth, and she was curious. Her wise grandmother often spoke of the ancestors’ faith, the old ways, and the spirits that watched over them, but Zuri’s heart longed for something more. She had a deep yearning, a desire to know this God who was said to love all people, no matter who they were.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 (NIV)
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow across the fields, Zuri was walking near the river. She often came here to think, to pray in her way, and to listen to the world around her. That evening, the air felt different, as if something profound was about to happen.
