For this month, the World Race has brought me to Kitale, Kenya where I have been working with Great Mercy Ministries, an orphanage and school started in 2001. I have had the opportunity to share my story and hear the stories of kids that have lost one or both of their parents to AIDS, violence, or abandonment.
But despite their circumstances, they praise God. I have not come across a single kid at Great Mercy that isn’t thankful for where they are now. They know that God loves them and that He has a plan for them.
But this past week, my team had the opportunity to travel to Kimilili, Kenya to work with Bishop Titus and Lead Ministries International. We have done door-to-door evangelism, ministered in a prison, hospital, school, and market, and spoken at services every night this week. Yes, we are a little exhausted.
But it’s been worth it. God has been faithful to speak through us when we didn’t have the words and work through us when we didn’t have the strength.
Part of the ministry included visiting the local hospital to speak with and pray for the patients. I ended up in the pediatrics ward, which consisted of a room with about 15 to 20 beds. Being a slow day, there were about 6 children in the room, but we were told that at times there are 3 kids to a bed.
The oldest patient was 4 years old and his name was Justin. When I came to his bed, he was lying on his stomach with a covering over his body, so I didn’t know what was wrong. Turns out he had been severely burned by boiling milk…the white layers of dead tissue were exposed.
He grinned as I walked up, and I asked him what his name was…Justin. I told him that I really liked his name. We continued to talk with him, and my teammate and I prayed for him. As we were about to walk to the next patient, he told me that because I liked his name, he would give it to me and go without one.
What do you say to a four-year-old who freely gives you his name?
So, I now have a new name received from a very unlikely place. I’ve learned that what may seem like a small moment can have a big impact. As I prepare to head back to Kitale and Great Mercy for another week, I feel humbled to go with the name Justin.
