Home Sweet Home

When I look over the past few years and the many people I have met in Africa I stand in awe of what God is able to do. I remember telling God I would go anywhere He wanted, only please don't send me to Africa! I was afraid of the things I heard were there. The animals, the natives in the bush, the snakes and so much more. Fear could have kept me from the precious blessings God had for me there. I often think about what my family would think if they could just see me there. I am a girly girl. I like air condidtioning, electricity, running water, starbucks, smooth roads, and I hate snakes, spiders (especially those the size of silver dollars). I hate dirt and germs and I have hated camping since I was a young girl. But I love Africa! I love the people! I love walking down the dirt roads as children I don't know run to greet me. They touch me and giggle or hold my hand and continue down the path with me evven though we have never met! I take glee in watching them dare each other to come and talk to me. When I speak first in there language it shocks and delights them! I love this time! So many kids. Mostly hurting kids. Hungry kids. Often unloved and abandoned. It is my joy to show them love even if it is only for a few moments. I can't imagine my children or grandchildren living as these children do.
I remember when I met Frankie. He was 8 years old and clothed in rags. One mass of dirt upon dirt with saddness in his eyes, but a smile on his face. I gave him some food and began to visit with him. He soon asked me if I wanted to see where he slept. I told him I would love to! I wasn't prepared for what I saw. This frail little boy lifted up a man hole cover and pointed to a tunnel under the street. "There mama! This is where I sleep. It is warm and I am safe from the big boys who want to steal my jacket and shoes. But Mama the rats! They crawl all over me at night!" I wanted to cry. How many times had I walked over that very man hole? How could I walk way now? It was cold, and I knew I was going home to a matress on the floor, and blankets. I would take a bucket bath, and in the morning I would have coffee and a power bar. Frankiewould have whatever someone gave him, or whatever he scrounged in a local garbage heap, or nothing at all. I didn't sleep that night.

I cried and begged God to provide a bed for him at Nehemiah Boys Ranch. God answered my prayers a few days later and I was thrilled that my next meeting with Frankie would be at the ranch! He was no longer dirty, his clothes were clean, he had new shoes and the same smile and had a gleem in his eyes!
If I let my fear keep me from going where God lead, I would have missed the hidden treasures each of these children are. Hidden from us, but seen by Him! He knew where Frankie had been sleeping. He knew his pain and He had a plan to rescue his treasure. He had a new home for him! He has a new home for us all!

Transforming Love

I was at he House of Hope Children's Home when this precious boy named Tobias arrived for the first time. His mother died and his father was unable to care for him. A neighbor brought him to the home and drove away. He tried to be very brave but tears filled his eyes and he looked shell shocked. I wanted to cry for him. As I left that evening I wanted to take him with me, but I knew that he needed to get use to the home.

When I returned to the home a few days later Tobias was in class with the other boys from the home. I spent a few hours observing the class and their new teacher and I was please to see Tobias trying to keep up with the others and the teacher taking time to show him the assignmemt. It was then that I was told that he was from another tribe and didn't speak the language that the others in the class spoke. He also didn't speak English which the class has been learning all year. Can you imagine having a parent die, the remaining parent unable to care for you and being dropped off in a place where you don't know the language, don't know anyone and can't ask anyone for help? My heart again begain to break for him. It was a lot for him to handle. I tried to get him to smile for pictures, but he wouldn't smile. Several of the boys invited them to join them in a game of duck-duck goose which he quickly caught on to.
Later that evening after all the children went to bed I heard singing coming from one of the boys rooms, so I tip-toed down the hall to see who it was and was shocked dto see it was Tobias! He was singing a song in his language and teaching the other two boys in his room the verses. When they would repeat the verse wrong he would giggle!

The next day I witnessed Tobias and Wamae sitting on the cough with their arms aroung each other! How sweet to witness the transformation in him. He has been loved and accepted by the staff and the children and he is becoming comfortable with his new home and his new "family". I was richly blessed to witness his transformation and I know love, prayers and tenderness have been what has transformed his heart and mind. House of Hope is a healing place! God is working in the hearts and minds of the children and staff there. Thank you Lord for allowing me to be apart of this ministry and to see You do incrediable things in these lives! I'm blessed!