Oh yeah, I thought I would love the kids here…I knew they’d be precious…and sweet…and wonderful…BUT I didn’t think I would fall in love with one of them so deeply. I’ve always worked with kids but it’s never been a deep passion of mine…but I think the Lord is changing and redeeming that.
Last month, we had a worship time with our squad and during our time my team prayed over another team and another team prayed over us and asked the Lord His words for us for the next month…almost like a prophesy. Well the theme of what was spoken over my team, Fiercely Loved, was unity.
But one of the visions was of a garden. We were the caretakers of the garden during the time we were in it and it flourished, but we had to leave. When we were leaving, we were tempted to pick the fruit and the flowers but they had to stay because it wasn’t about taking the fruit but more about loving on the garden and helping it grow and flourish.
Coming into this month we didn’t know exactly how that vision was going to play out in our ministry at the orphanage…but I very quickly found my flower. I don’t want to leave it. I want to pick it and pack it away and take it with me.
But I have to leave him.
Yes, him.
His name is Carlos.
He captured my heart the first day we were here and I was shocked. I never expected it. I didn’t see it coming. The whole morning we were with the little babies and I was just so happy with feeding them their bottles, playing on the little playground and swinging them in the air and seeing their little faces light up with complete joy.
But then the 3 older kids came home from school. And although I still have so much love for every child in this home, Carlos caught my attention fast.
Carlos is an 8 year old orphan who suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome. Every time Carlos takes a step, it looks like he’s going to fall face first into the dirt…but he almost never does. His walking, talking and basic functions of movements aren’t like an ordinary child.
BUT his love, his joy, his smile…they’re all EXTRAORDINARY!
From the moment I met him, we connected. He loved me. I loved him. God gave me eyes to see him so purely and perfectly. His smile, his laughter, the few words he could say and the intelligence I saw in his eyes, his reactions and his responses to me when I spoke either Spanish or English to him…he understood it all and he would answer me in his own special ways.
He’s one of a kind.
My teammate Suze and I went with one of the leaders of the orphanage to find a new home for Carlos…you see, he’s too old for the Josephine House now and they have to move him. Unfortunately, the majority of the orphanages in Peru have so few funds and workers already that taking on a special needs child is nearly impossible. We visited two homes with Carlos and although neither of them will work out, we got to spend the whole day (12 hours) with Carlos sitting between the two of us in the back seat. His fascination with everything we passed, every light that was shining at night and every little word we said made the exhausting 12 hour day one of the best days I’ve had on the race so far.
My love and desire for this little boy to just have a good home grew immensely in these 12 hours and in the past few weeks being here in Cusco. Please be praying that the Lord will provide a home for Carlos quickly and seamlessly.
My heart is captured. My life will never be the same because of Carlos and the joy he radiates.
I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone. Being with a bunch of little kids isn’t always my comfort zone but the Lord is shaping and redeeming that in such a sweet way.
