Dear Reader,
A story from ministry this week:
This past Friday I was apart of the team who went on the afternoon feeding to a local school. I have been trying to go to the same feedings every week so I can build relationships with the kiddos at each school. As I was standing and trying to remember each name from the past two weeks( still learning), I felt these little arms wrap around my waist and squeeze super tight. As I look down I am surprised to see a child I had not met yet. I soon found out his name was James. Over the next 30 minutes all he wanted was to be held and loved on. Makena, Sam,Bridget and I accepted his love with open arms!
Before we knew it was time to leave the school for that week. As we began to leave, James tried to communicate he wanted to go with us in Tagalog( the National language). Chris (our fantastic driver) told him that he couldn’t come and we had to heartbreakingly leave him behind. As we drove down the rode to give out extra food to the locals, we turn around only to find James beginning to chase us! When we eventually stopped, he appeared after a 3/4 of mile sprint! We gave him lots of hugs and our hearts broke for how much love he was showing us. After another a final round of hugs and a promise to return next week, we hopped back into the van and began our journey back to the lighthouse.
On our way home, Chris tells us Jame’s story: When the lighthouse staff first found James they quickly noticed a lumped on his forehead. They thought it was a brain tumor, but it turns out James was born with parts of his brain not in the right place. He couldn’t do the simplest things a child should be able to do, like run ,play or talk. So the Lighthouse ministry pulled together to raise money for surgeries for James. When he was only 5, he had three surgeries to push his brain back together. Praise the Lord, now at age 10, James can walk, talk, hug and smile. Hugging is his favorite!
My heart broke for all that James had to go through at such a young age. But oh, what a testimony he is to what it looks like to be joyful and love others through suffering. A true reflection of what Christ did for us on the cross! I praise The Father for revealing Himself in those everyday moments. In lonely moments, in the trials,in the suffering HE IS THERE. He is with you every step, leading you loser to Himself.Praise Him! Halleluja!
