I unfolded the tiny piece of paper.
The name of a ten year old Dominican boy stared back at me.
True words of love from a mother leading a devotional echoed behind me.
“I became a new mother this year, and I soon realized my main ministry in this child’s life is to pray for him. These kids in this orphanage don’t have a parent to do that for them. You have just received the name of a child here. Be the intercessor for them, pray for them when no one else is.”
I left the Dominican Republic that summer and made it my responsibility to pray for Algeni.
I wrote his name with a marker on my mirror. I wrote about this child on my prayer wall. When I saw his name I shouted out something to the Heavens.
“God let Algeni have a good day today.”
“God let Algeni feel blessed today.”
“God let this little boy see a glimpse of you today.”
I never prayed anything big, or exaggerated. I honestly even underestimated the impact prayer would make in his life. I just wanted him prayed for. I just wanted him to feel loved.
Every day my team sees the faces of the beloved children of the king. These kids. Many live in shacks without toilets. Many neglected and abused. Many have HIV because when they were babies men raped them to end the curse for themselves. My first graders brush their teeth in the mornings, spiting in the grass, all because they are not taught to take care of their teeth at home.
photo credit: Lindy Hickman
I see the little girl in my class who was raped by her uncle. I see the little boy who is mean to the other kids knowing that he goes home to a mother who throws rocks at him. I see the little girl who is sometimes really annoying for the amount of attention she craves all to find out her father has 19 other kids with different mothers.
One of the hardest parts of the race is having to say goodbye so quickly to the people we learn to love.
Our time here in South Africa is coming to an end. We have to say goodbye. We have to go on the rest of our lives to wonder what will happen to the children we kiss and hug and love. But we can still intercede for them. We can still pray for others to come in and bless and be Jesus to this list of names. The names who impacted our lives more than we could ever impact them.
Jason
Aldrich
Abongile
Wonke
Kreswin
Thembeka
Xolenlwa
Yolwando
Yolnela
Andisiwe
Alicia
Sinesipho
Vuyolwethu
Ayandisa
Liyabona
Sihle
Zizo
Siyabonga
Luphumlo
Xolisile
Sinovuyo
Ayakha
Evam
Emihle
Yolisa
Ayabonga
Yomelela
Yonelani
Minle
Luthando
Andile
Asisipho
Ayuvile
Anam
Sandile
Ibanathi
Anathi
Asekhona
Isanele
Onesimo
David-Matthew
Admire
Amissima
Mama
Tony
Zintle
Sisipo
A year later I returned to the Dominican Republic. I saw Algeni, in the year I was back in the states praying for him, well he at received Christ as his Savior. He was even Baptized to display his devotion to His king to the rest of the boys in the orphanage.
I am gonna ask a favor. Pick just one name on the list above. Pray for them. Write the name of this child on your bathroom mirror. Yes, you may never see the impact you are making on this child in this life, heck you may not even be able to pronounce their name. But the Father is working. Imagine what it would be like being able to introduce yourself to the person you are praying for when we reach eternity.
Make a difference.
