Andy

Well– I told God when I signed up for the World Race…. that in order for me to go, He would have to do something for me! (Great start to obedience huh?) I told him that giving up a year of Cason, Mackenli & Ryleigh’s life was definitely going to be the hardest part of the race for me…so in return, He had to give me at least one child in each country that I could connect with and love. He knows my heart and knows the need I have to hold a child and pour my love on them. And because God created my heart this way, and He loves me so much – He has done just that (He is soooo good). So… you will probably hear of at least one child in each country that God has given me to love.

This month has been Andy – oh my gosh…seriously one of the cutest little squirts I have ever seen!!!:) If you know me at all … you know that I love little things in general-so little tiny kids just completely steal my heart! Andy and his sister Deedeen live at the YWAM orphanage and I especially love when they play with each other. It is so cute to see a brother & sister play – and it makes me miss how Cason & Mackenli play with one another! 🙂 The cutest part is that although they are over 4 years apart – they are almost the same size! I mentioned in an earlier blog that although Andy is 6 years old, he is probably the size of a 2 year old! Literally the size of his wrist is the width of my two first fingers – and I can wrap my middle finger and thumb around his calf – and they touch just perfectly!

I knew the second I saw Andy that I was going to love him. Not only is he itty bitty, but he has an incredible smile and his voice is really high pitched – IRRESISTIBLE!!!!! Andy wears a pair of camo crocs everyday – he has apparently adopted them as his shoes, and I am not sure that Andy will grow into the shoes until he is about 12! They are so huge on him, but they are his and I suppose when you are an orphan and have to share everything with 12 other people….having a pair of shoes that feels like “yours”, you hang on to that. I am just falling more in love with this child everyday. When Andy and Deedeen came to YWAM, about a 1 ½ years ago –they were way behind. Of course, they were completely malnourished, which is why Andy is so tiny now, but they were really behind academically and socially. Candace (the care taker of the children) told me that when they got them, Andy was not walking and certainly not talking much at all. Their mom had babied them so much that they were extremely behind all other children at their age. Now, he is in school and is doing so well- and all the kids love him because he has such a great personality. Candace always tells me how tragic it is that I do not speak Creole (which you would think being from Southeast Texas and eating Cajun food all the time…we would know some Creole language – it only seems right), because she says that Andy is the funniest kid they have and he is constantly saying hilarious things!

I know this blog is not really about a spiritual lesson I am learning right now, but I just want you to have a glimpse into my life. This is the face that I get to look into everyday and the arms that I get to hug and the little cheek that I get to kiss… at least for the next 7 days! I truly thank God everyday for this child and for placing him in my life at this time – and the sweet relationship we have built over the last twelve days. I love him and my heart will break when I have to hug him for the last time.

I know you will all love Andy too – thank you for caring about him!