Today is the beginning of a new life for a 7-year-old boy named Darrah! He is a precious boy who the Lord divinely brought into the life of Team Holla-lujah. I have blogged about a Muslim village that we visit in the mornings, and he is from this village. This particular village is half a mile from where we are staying at YDC; we can bike or walk there easily. It all began one afternoon when two of my teammates went to the village and were playing soccer with the kids. The kids were all very violent and aggressive. This included hitting and biting one another, as well as my teammates. Darrah was attached at the hip to one of my teammates, while she was being goalie. He stayed right under her, biting, and hitting her. Little did we know that this precious child would become our new little friend. We have joked about a team pet but this month in Cambodia, God has provided us with a child.
His days involved going through trash on our street, begging at the local market, and gathering plastic bottles to sell. One late afternoon two other teammates went out for a run and came across this little boy and his friend Tia. They were right outside our gate, they sat and chatted with the boys with a translator. It was getting dark so they walked the boys home, they aren’t sure where to go in the dark. The next two days consisted of these boys at the center and even going to ministry with us. They came to be known as Ta-Da! Thursday evening things took a turn when Darrah showed up to our home about an hour after he has been taken home. It was dark and he was afraid, it was this night the truth of his home life came out and the reality of his abusive home came to light. It is a rather long and confusing story for me, so here is the quick run down. He is currently living with his step mom in a 10×10 room with 11 other children. His mother died when he was 3 years old from HIV and it came to light that his father has HIV, as well. There is abuse at night when he cries because he is hungry and when he runs away from home. I’m not sure all of the details but he is not in a healthy home and gets physically abused on a regular basis. As a team we spent Thursday night and seeking the Lord to show us how to love this precious angel. There were many emotions but the most assuring thing about the whole situation is that God has him in his palm and in control.
Ta-Da (taken by my teammate Laura)
Friday morning came along and guess how was at the gate before 8am, yes Darrah! He came in and sat playing quietly we read a chapter from John with the staff at YDC. After the devotion we headed to 42-house village, with Darrah, to do usual ministry. As we were leaving we got a phone call from Maricel our contact saying get back quickly that Darrah’s father was outside the gate wanting to know where his child was. The whole ride back to the center was very uneasy and we were preparing ourselves for worse case scenario. This included seeing this child abused, presence of the police, jail (good thing we know Mr. Lynn the warden), and getting ready to embrace for what was to happen. Upon our arrival home, his dad had just left and so immediately the boys took him home. They met with his father, stepmother, and community leader to discuss what was best for this boy. The conclusion was the best thing would be for him to go an orphanage in Phenom Phen, the capital city 3 hours away. We heard the gate open and the boys were home with Darrah, we knew this was a good sign. They briefly shared what happened and packed a bag to catch a bus in 45 minutes to Phenom Phen to visit an orphanage. As quickly as they were in, they were on their way with this precious boy to get Bibles for the prisoners and guitar strings.
My sweet teammate, Megan, with Darrah
Saturday morning was the big day to go to the orphanage and have a meeting with the head master. After some discussion and explaining to him Darrah’s story he said this would be the perfect place for him. But he would need to be HIV negative, have his birth papers, and have his parents consent. This having gone so well the next step was getting this boy tested for HIV. The fellas headed back on a bus and arrived home about 6pm Saturday evening. As this boy walked in the gate, he was a new kid. He had on new clothes, got a haircut, and had on shoes, which we had never seen him wear before. Not only was his appearance different but his whole demeanor was different as well. For the past few days he had spent time with us and experienced true love, most likely for the first time in his life. We went out to dinner and had a wonderful evening with our angel. He spent Saturday night with us and it was up early Sunday morning at 8am to go to the clinic to get tested for HIV. They came back; we went to church together at a team and returned home. It was back to the clinic to get the results and EVERYTHING WAS NEGATIVE, no HIV and his heart is fine. This means he is clear to go to the orphanage, provided he has his birth papers and the consent of his father.
Negative to ALL the test results!!
The new Darrah that returned to us!
We headed out to lunch to a local restaurant. This kid can put some food away and enjoys every bite! A lady working in the restaurant was asking us about the boy. He briefly told her about what we were doing and helping to get him in an orphanage. She responded with “Thank you for helping the Cambodian people.” We returned home for a meeting with his father. We are currently awaiting his arrival. I will come with further details as they happen and to tell how Big God provided for his child Darrah!
Darrah blessing the food
I ask you to be praying for this child and all the greatness God has planned for life. That he may find the true love of God and to understand how much he is loved by God. The past 7 years to be apart of his story but for complete healing and forgiveness in his heart. Details for the orphanage to work out and for him to love it there. For God to provide someone to disciple this child and him to grow up surrounded by God’s love. Also, keep this team in your prayers as we say see you later to this precious child. Again thank you for your continual support and prayers, none of this would be possible without each of you!
