This sweet and beautiful little boy is named Robirra. He is one of the children sponsored and living here in the children’s village with HOPEthiopia, and his story touched my heart and most everyone on my squad’s hearts so deeply. Robirra was abandoned by his mother as a very young baby, and because of the conditions in which he was left, he now has many cognitive and developmental deficiencies. He is believed to be somewhere around 3-4 years old. Robirra was originally living in a home for children with special needs, but when the home shut down and he had no where to go, no one to care for him, HOPEthiopia stepped in, and he now lives with many of his new brothers and sisters in the compound where we are living and doing ministry this month.
I’ve always had a heart for the special needs community. In the States, those with physical or mental disabilities, whether born or developed, all have rights. Special needs individuals in America have communities, support systems, and opportunities. There are so many wonderful nonprofits, organizations, and programs ministering to, teaching, and advocating specifically for the special needs community. Unfortunately, you don’t see the same kind of representation, advocacy, or even acceptance in other less developed countries. In most every aspect of life, what separates America from other countries is opportunity. To be completely honest, it’s been heartbreaking for me to come across anyone with special needs on the Race, because I can’t help but think how different their lives would be had they been born in the States. Robirra is no different.
When I first heard Robirra’s story, I was immediately reminded of my own cousin, sweet Ainsley Grace. Even if you don’t know my family personally, you may have come across Ainsley’s story on Facebook as she’s gained quite the viral fame since I’ve been on the Race. Ainsley has the most severe type of osteogenesis imperfecta, aka the brittle bone disease. Though Robirra’s condition is very different, his story mirrors Ainsley’s in so many ways. It’s a miracle Robirra has survived to today, and his rapid development in his first few years of life has been completely unexpected for all who diagnosed him from the beginning. Some people would look at my cousin, Ainsley, and the fact that she is now thriving and constantly baffling doctors, and call it the power of modern medicine. But we know it’s actually the power of our God and the divine purpose He has for her life. Robirra is another living proof of that. A child who doesn’t even have an exact diagnosis, who was born into an impoverished community in Ethiopia, without access to any of the modern and revolutionary research, equipment, or medical professionals we have in the States. Robirra, just like Ainsley, is a miracle in every sense of the word because every part of him, every part of his story, points back to his almighty Father.
I know that the Lord has purpose for His joyful and precious son Robirra greater than I or anyone else can even fathom. However, my heart breaks because I can’t help but think how he doesn’t have near the same opportunities as children with special needs in the States. I can’t help but think of the care he could be getting in America. He has a housemom caring for him full time, a nurse on staff with HOPEthiopia doing physical therapy with him as much as possible, and a few of my squadmates working with him who have proclaimed he will be walking on his own any day now. Myself and a few others are fasting, praying, and believing this week that Robirra will walk.
I’ve lately been convicted of the fact that in my heartache for Robirra and his condition, in my prayers for his healing and development, I’ve forgotten to praise and give thanks for who this little boy is. I’ve looked at him, held him, played with him, and walked away questioning how God has been good to him. God could have protected him from his mother’s abandonment, He could have prevented all that Robirra’s life turned out to be. But, children are abandoned, and terrible things happen to the innocent because there is sin in the world. Humans are imperfect and this world, our lives, it’s dark, it’s broken, and it’s a mess. But none of that changes who God is. None of that even so much as touches His deep, deep love for us despite our brokenness, our messiness, and our sin. None of that changes the divine, glorious, and beautiful plan God has for his beloved child, Robirra.
In this conviction I’ve been reminded of a verse from Job that has stuck with me through many trials in my own life:
“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Job 1:21
The Lord gave life for Robirra, and many basic skills and developments have been taken away from him. These, however, are not reasons to curse, blame, or turn away from God. They are instead reasons to sing and rejoice in His praise. To pray for healing and progress for Robirra because I know that He can and He will, but to know that no matter what is given or taken away, my faith will prevail and He will still be good.
In the local language, the name Robirra means “from God.” And that’s exactly what this little boy is. A gift from the Lord, one that glistens with His goodness, grace, and love. I look into sweet Robirra’s eyes, and I know that my Father loves this child so deeply, that though he cannot speak, and we aren’t sure of all that he understands, that every breath in his little lungs is an echo of praise to the One who gave and has sustained his life.
May the name of the Lord be praised.
