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!
1 comment:
This, my dear friend, is basically my kids' story. Their dad died, then 6 months later their mom died in childbirth. The babies were relinquished 2 months later, and the boys followed 2 weeks after that. Their first experience with a car was when they were transported 5 hours away with a strange man who could not speak their tribal language. They were taken to an orphanage where no one spoke their tribal language and thought they were going to be killed. No one could explain to them what was happening. It still makes me sad to think about all they endured. And multiply that times thousands as this is an oft repeated story.
I think it is very GOD that He has called so many of us that spent time together so many years ago and even sang songs entitled "Please Don't Send Me to AFrica!", to GO TO AFRICA. Love your heart and your ministering hands and feet.
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