As I explained in my blog post called “W,” this month each World Racer was partnered with one child here at El Shaddai. When I prayed over which child the Lord has already picked out for me, the number five came to mind. So I ended up with Welcome – a fifth grade boy who has the potential to be overlooked because of his age and quietness.
My time with Welcome has been amazing. I have seen him come out of his shell as I have pursued him, hearing him talk more about himself and about biblical stories. His knowledge of the bible surprised me, and encouraged me in my vision for him to become a powerful speaker and leader of the gospel in Swaziland.
But then there is Joseph – a five year old boy who was never assigned a World Racer because he just moved up in his age group and was thus, overlooked.
When I first saw Joseph, he was so incredibly quiet and never said a word to anyone. He would only look at you when you said things to him and lift his eyebrows in response, his tongue pushing his bottom lip out significantly. When I first saw Joseph, I said to myself, “I want to become best friends with that boy.”
Every day for two weeks I said “Hi Joseph” without any response. Then one day after chapel we played hide-and-seek. The following day he chased after me and asked to see my camera. Since then we have been inseparable.
Every day he chases after me saying “Ori!” (aka Ari) and we hang out. I’ve helped him with homework and sat with him while he told me about his past and family. I am absolutely stunned at the two relationships I have developed here at El Shaddai. Two relationships that I could have never pictured or predicted, but were perfectly placed by the Lord.
When I asked the Lord at the start of the month, “Who have you picked out for me already?” He provided the number 5. I thought it stopped at Welcome being a fifth grader, but then there is Joseph, a five-year-old.
I am so blessed by these two relationships. I feel so touched and loved by them, and I can only pray that they feel loved by me.
