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Love at first sight

   After a 9-hour plane ride and a 7-hour bus ride we pulled up to the ministry center in Swaziland. We were rushed by a large group of children screaming and yelling out of excitement that we were there. As I peered out the window one little boy caught my eye. He was posted up against the wall as if he was ready for his photo shoot. His pants falling off, no shirt, jacket unzipped, and sunglasses on, I knew I was in love. I quickly scrambled to get off the bus and go meet this little boy that had caught my attention. I mean that’s what you do when you are in love. Right? Leaving my bags in the seat I got out of the van and headed over. He greeted me with the head nod and a little smirk. Yep, I was in love all right.  I sat down beside him and he sat right down in my lap.

   
   For most of the afternoon we sat against the wall with my arms wrapped tightly around him. It was meant to be. We spent the next two days in Nsoko before heading to our destination for the next two weeks. Musa and I spent every moment together. We ran around, played on the playground, sat around, colored, and got into anything and everything we could. I would soon come to know that Musa was an orphan who lived in a little hut close by. He lived with a GoGo his two brothers, and another little boy.  This child was in much need of being loved. Although we didn’t understand each other we would laugh and have the greatest time. I started calling him wiggle worm and crazy man and he quickly picked up on it. He would so cutely repeat it back to me.

    My favorite day with Musa came right before we left Swaziland. I woke up and headed out to spend some time with God. After about an hour I felt a little hand tug at me. I looked back and it was Musa. I was overjoyed. I pulled him up to sit with me. He just leaned on me while I journaled and thanked God for the child sitting beside me. After awhile we put my headphones on and listened to music together. He would try so hard to sing and dance along with the music. We enjoyed the morning together just listening to music, playing on the play ground, swinging together, and walking around saying wiggle worm and crazy man. That evening we took the boys to eat at the only little restaurant in town. It was so cute. They showed up in matching shorts and shirts. They had come in their best. Musa  had his first milkshake and enjoyed watching soccer on the T.V. It was a great way to top off our time in Swaziland.

    Musa is just one of many orphans in Africa. They get so much joy out of just being held. Just being loved on. When you see the situations they live in it is hard to wonder if God is enough. To leave these children behind that you fall in love with and trust that God is with them is hard. God taught me so much about trusting Him. Trusting that it wasn’t me that Musa needed, but it was the love of God. God’s going to take care of him. God is with him. The hours spent praying over Musa while we were playing was received. God knows his name and He loves him. I feel in love at first sight and I hope this story allows you to experience a little bit of the beauty of the love I found.