I was in a state of elation as we drove down the windy roads getting one mile closer and closer to his house. The butterflies were building after each twist and turn as I wondered if this would be the last before I got to meet the little boy behind the picture.
After an hour of driving on gravel roads I found myself parking outside of a wooden house with a few people on the front porch. As we climbed the stairs everyone dispersed to round up the rest of the family as some were at church and others were at work.
When I walked into the house a little boy was ushered from the comfort of his siblings to me. The boy shyly walked toward me and timidly gave me a hug. This little boy with his spiked hair and baseball t-shirt that looked at me with searching brown eyes was Sebastian, the boy whom I have grown to love.
At the beginning of the visit Sebastian and I were strangers trying to get to know each other by taking pictures, opening gifts, and me explaining that he will be pen pals with me and my nephew Eric.
As I looked around their house I saw joy and love radiating from all of Sebastian’s family. Even the walls displayed their love for Christ as they read “Jehosa es mi Pastor” which translates to “Jesus is my Shepherd”. Doves, Hearts, and Psalm 23 also covered the blue walls which symbolized the protection and love that are found in his household.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even tough I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” – Psalm 23
To overcome the language barrier I started taking photos with Sebastian while we made funny faces. Soon all of his brothers wanted to join and the montage of silly faces and all insecurities about who I was and how I cared about him vanished. The laughter that rang through the house while we did our photo shoot let me know that I was able to show my love for him beyond all languages. I was no longer a stranger, I was someone who loved and cared about this family.
When we had to leave Sebastian put down the present he had clung to since he received it and engulfed me in one of those all-out-I-love-you little kid hugs. My heart swelled with love in that moment. He got it, he understood that I loved him for exactly who he was.
Most people did not get to meet the children they sponsor and if they do it is after many years. I was able to meet Sebastian a month after starting my sponsorship. The Lord coordinated the plans for me to meet him so that we could have a relationship from the very beginning. Meeting him on Saturday was not of my own doing, it was a divine blessing bestowed upon me. I was not only able to show him my love for him in person, I now more fully understand God’s purpose for the sponsorship.
What had started as my desire to act out the gospel and establish a love for others in Eric God used to bring together two little boys and two families from different countries and different backgrounds that share a common love for Christ. The Lord truly “works in mysterious ways”.
Do you think you could be that source of love for one of Christ’s children?
Consider sponsoring a child through Food for the Hungry: a year sponsorship is $32 a month and will also provide a $50 donation to my mission trip if you go through the banner on the left side of this page.
