He handed me a piece of paper all folded up. I opened it and began to read the sweet words from the quiet 13-year old boy at my CarePoint. It was quite the love letter! I knew he must want to be friends…
The following days were spent getting to know him, asking how his school day was (“very good, very good”), learning about his family (a mother, a sister and brother, no father), and hearing about his love for Jesus (he LOVES Jesus!). He knew I needed to get a hug from him first thing when he got to the CarePoint! We would chat and he would give me more love letters. It was a sweet friendship that I knew was going to require a heartbreaking goodbye. As the last week of CarePoint ministry approached, I knew I wanted to have some deeper conversations about his faith in Jesus. He is so smart and he is such a thinker, and I figured he would be ready to dive into more conversations like that.
My second to last day at the carepoint, Letho was crying. He found out we were leaving the next day. I began comfort him and God out it on my heart to encourage him and the purpose God has for him here in Swaziland, and for me in the next countries. He looked at me with tears in his eyes and nodded, accepting that our friendship would soon be ending. I then asked him, “Letho, can you tell me about your relationship with Jesus?” He began to tell me about how Jesus has protected him throughout his life. He also told me that he wants to be a missionary like me (how stinkin adorable) when he grows up so that he can tell others about Jesus. God put it on my heart to tell him that he can be a missionary today, he doesn’t have to wait until he is older; he can share the gospel everywhere he goes here in Swaziland. He looked at me and said. “But they won’t listen to me because I am so young,” Y’all… God totally ordained this conversation. I was able to share with him 1 Timothy 4:12, about not letting others look down on you because you are young, and how God will equip him to share the good news if he steps out in faith. I was also able to share with him the story of GoGo Maria’s knee being healed (I posted a blog about that if you’re interested!) and he said, “Unbelievable!” It was so sweet. I told him that God would use him as well to be a vessel for healing, encouragement, truth, and love. We prayed together and ended the conversation with laughter and talk about how much we would play tomorrow for our last day together. (And yes, it was a wonderful last day and the goodbye was very hard… although he had some hope because I gave him my address in case he ever comes to America, which he insists he will do someday!)
Jesus, thank you for Letho. I pray that you would continue sending people to encourage him. I pray that he would step out in boldness and share the gospel here in Nsoko, Swaziland. I pray that you raise him up to be a godly man here, an example for the others. Jesus, thank you for giving me such a sweet little friend in my time here. And Lord, i do pray that he could come to America someday! You are too good. I surrender Letho to you in Jesus’ name. Amen
-Anna
