Throughout my life my brother, Bobby has been my partner in crime. From Harry Potter marathons to rainy arcade days at the beach, he’s been by my side. We can cause a ruckus everywhere we go and have more fun than most people could imagine.
Bobby has also been an inspiration. I have cried time and time again during his accomplishments. From high school graduation to Eagle Scout ceremonies to homecoming court, I struggle with ever keeping a dry eye when it comes to my brother.
My brother has shown me what it means to have an awesome attitude in the midst of darkness. He never complains about not being able to walk or being in pain. He goes through life with a smile and shows me how to be grounded in happiness.
This all being said it’s been hard to be on the race without him and seeing as my mom was coming to visit it was getting even harder. When I realized these emotions were to hard to handle I looked up at the sky and I prayed. I prayed to God that I would get to talk to my brother and get refreshed to finish these next 4 months.
In my head I assumed God would answer my prayers by putting it on my brothers heart to call me. But of course God had way bigger and better plans.
That next Monday, I got to meet a kid at the orphanage that I had never met, Martin. Little did I know this kid would forever change my life and how I view my prayers.
Martin, was this cute little soul with cerebral palsy. The first day as I am trying to talk to him in Spanish, he finally laughs and replies to me in English. And as I am stretching him getting ready for physical therapy, he asks if I’ll put on some music. I reply, “of course what do you want to listen to.”
“Michael Jackson”
If you know Bobby, I am sure your jaw has dropped by now. Bobby has cerebral palsy. He’s super smart. His favorite singer is Michael Jackson. God answer my prayers with a person. Martin reminded me so much of my brother. He was a living, breathing human with a laugh so close to Bobby’s you would think he was in the room.
So Martin and I of course became the best of friends. I would help him with physical therapy but more than that we would laugh and joke. We would dance and sing. He was my little Ecuadorian brother.
Who would have guessed it a kid who was taken out of the jungle and left to the orphanage would have so much in common as my brother? But they do. Two souls that will never meet but both mean more to me than they will ever know.
In turn saying goodbye to Martin was super hard. He didn’t understand why I would leave him and why I needed to go to Quito. It didn’t make sense to him or me. And all I could mutter up to say was, “I don’t want to leave either.”
Martin and Bobby will always hold special places in my heart.
In turn, I want to encourage you to pray the crazy prayers. Pray the simple prayers. And pray all ones in between. Pray them because you’ll never know when a Martin will be placed in your life.
