Every Monday and Friday afternoon we have “outreach,” which means that we go out into the field by the village, and entertain 300 kids for 2 hours. Some people play soccer, others Chinese jump rope, and then there is my type who brings their camera to take pictures and be the human jungle gym. It is organized chaos and a new adventure every time we go.
The first time we went I met a 10 year old boy named Mike. He came to me because I had a camera and wanted his picture taken “one more pict-ya” (which means as many more pictures as you can take) is what was being yelled at me from all directions as little kids fight to see the 2×2 inch display screen on my camera. I noticed right away that he was very intelligent and he could speak a little English. We spent the afternoon making faces at each other and horse-playing, and as he would stand next to me with my hand on his head I would pray for him. God had put Mike on my heart from day one.
This past Monday was our second time to have outreach and of coarse Mike was there again, just waiting on me. “Dabid….Dabid” he yells as I walk closer, but as I did he noticed that I didn’t have my camera this time. He was kinda sad knowing that today’s events weren’t going to be documented, but excited none the less. “You play 
soccer?” He always asked me, I proceeded to tell him that I don’t play soccer but if he wanted to he should go play. It is my character to watch the people I am close to and God has put on my heart. So I watched as he would run and play soccer for a few minutes, and then run back to me to talk or do crazy hand shakes. Then he would go listen to some one read a book and run back to me… it was in that moment that God spoke to me. He said “David Matthew, you don’t have your camera today…” I thought okay..” you are not playing soccer…” yeah. Okay. What is the point ” you are not doing anything fun….and yet he still comes back to you.” It was in that moment that I realized just how hungry this kid was for love. God’s love. It makes me think about what Jesus must have felt like when his disciples where telling him to tell the children to go away…… they just want love.
Today was not an outreach day but I spent all day with Mike. As we were driving back and for the from the village getting supplies to build a roof on a house we would pass him and he would yell as we drove by. The last time we were driving into the village he was there waiting for us, in the middle of the road, so that the driver would have to stop and let him in. He helped us fix a windmill, put a roof on a house, and he wore my sunglasses the whole time we were working. God has put him on my heart, and as I continue to pray for him my heart only hurts more for him. Leaving Mike in a week will by far be the hardest part of leaving this ministry for me, but I know that I am leaving him in God’s hands. I truly love Mike, and God has used that to teach me something very important this month. That no matter what I want to be a vessel for God’s love to be show to those who are hungry for it. Period.
