Anthony was my “aha” moment.
I met Anthony outside of the gate of KIM (kids international ministries) in Manila, Philippines. He was playing with his friend Francis. These two boys are some of the happiest children I have met in a long time. You could see how much they loved and cared for each other. They always had each other’s backs. Especially when it came to the older boys in the street.
When I met Anthony and Francis they both told me they were gay. I didn’t think much of it at the time because they are both 9 years old. Until a few days later I met Anthony’s mom and she called him a “she.” This caught me off guard and I wanted to know more…
It is common in the Philippines for a family of all boys to raise one of their boys as a girl. This way they have someone to help around the house and various other reasons. So we figured this is what was happening to Anthony.
Devon (one of my teammates) and I started to go to Anthony’s house every Saturday to meet with his mom. At first it was to just get to know her, but then it turned into a Bible study/discipleship. Through this we were able to find out she doesn’t want him to become a girl. She was just supporting him in what she thought he wanted.
Devon and I were able to speak life into the situation. We encouraged her to empower her son. Emphasizing how she can be speaking life into her son and empowering him to be the man God has called him to be. Her reaction to this said it all; she was completely taken back. It was almost like she had never thought about that before.
From here it was beautiful to see how she completely changed the way she talked to Anthony. She started referring to him as a boy and really started to ask what he wanted and not just assuming.
There was a point where in the beginning of the month she pulled her Bible out of the back of a cabinet and dusted it off. At the end of the month Anthony would always run up to us so excited saying him and his mom read the Bible together every night now.
It is moments like these that I know I am exactly where I am supposed to be. The Lord worked through this little boy in a HUGE way. He now has a brand new relationship with his mom. We can only hope after we leave that the Lord will keep doing beautiful things in their lives and that they will keep earnestly seeking him.
Never underestimate the small things a smile, holding someone’s hand, going on a walk… It is usually through the small things where the Lord likes to show off. Especially through the smallest of his children.
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:14
