I stepped off the tuk tuk into the blazing sun. My eyes squinted as they adjusted to the brightness.
Tuk Tuks lined the streets dropping of the next round of tourists.
Immediately a little boy scooted in front of me. “You like this whistle miss?” “Only one dollar”
Trying to stay focused and with the group I just kept walking forward. Again and again he worked his way through the crowd to me.
I could feel him reading the heartbreak in my eyes. “You like with elephant?” “I have with flowers too.”
I kept walking, trying to ignore him. How was this little boy even old enough to be working like this?
“Two for one dollar. Two for one dollar.” He pleaded.
“I maybe come back after.”
“No, you leave other side.”
I finally caved knowing I wasn’t coming back and quickly grabbed a dollar from my bag. Taking the two whistles, I hurried through the gate.
My heart screamed “Why? Why? Why, God?”
“Why him?”
“Why here?”
“Why injustice?”
“Why brokenness?”
“Why?”
Then they came. One by one. Water running down my face.
And then…
Full blown Waterfall. Sobbing.
My heart just broke.
This kid was my brothers age. Micah’s face kept flashing across my mind. Cambodia was his country, the one he had been looking forward to since we left. I couldn’t even comprehend if one of my brothers would have to do that. I wanted to take this little boy home with me and let him just be a kid. Free.
The Lord broke my heart for this country in that moment this morning. I move forward with a heart full of expectancy for the more He has in store with the children of Good Shepherd.
Being shaken so deeply by one, there will be abundance with the multitude.
The Whistles.
