On Saturday I met up with the two men of team HOLLAlujah; Zac, and Jakobus to travel back with them to their ministry, YDC. They were in Phnom Penh for the day to check out an orphanage for a little boy they had fallen in love with. Zac had briefly told me about Dara over the phone but there was no way for me to know how my life would change because of this child over the next few days.
We got on the bus to begin the 3 hour drive to Kampong Cham and Dara took the seat next to me. We became quick friends as I tickled and kissed him and we took lots of selfies together. As he was falling asleep with his head on my lap, I was playing with his hair I felt my tears starting to stream down my face. I was completely overwhelmed with love for him.
Father, what will become of this son?
And God spoke to me. He gave me Jeremiah 29:11—that He had big plans for Dara’s life and that those promises are full of hope, life, and purpose— and somehow I believed it was truer than I’ve ever believed before. He told me I could trust Him.
Team HOLLAlujah first met Dara while visiting a village to play with the children. The village has a reputation for violence and drunkeness and Dara did NOT like to play nice. He was pretty mean, actually. He would yell and hit the other kids, including the team.
After a few days, Dara and his little buddy Tia found out where the team was living and they started hanging out outside of the gate; desperate to play with the strange foreigners. The team decided they would love those two boys the best they could that day by playing games, giving them some food and sending them home with a few clothes. Day after day Dara returned to play.
Then late one night, as one of the team members took out the trash, she found Dara on the curb, sobbing hysterically. To make a long story short and to protect him, they soon found out that his home life was unsafe for him, and he was not provided with basic necessities.
From the next day on, he became an adopted child for team HOLLAlujah. They got to bathe him and teach him how to brush his teeth and wash his hands. They fed him and put him to sleep each night—tantrums and all. I was privileged enough to come in at the end and be a part of this for a few days as well.
(Left: On the way to Dara's first church service. Right: Learning how to pray)
More than any of this though, Dara was loved and he was loved extravagantly. Perhaps for the first time in his life, he was the object of never-ceasing hugs, kisses, and ‘I love you’s. I’m pretty certain he’s the most loved child in all of Cambodia! And he knows he’s loved. He knows He has favor in our eyes. I saw this 5 year old quite literally transform before my eyes because love was lavished on him.
The other day we were driving in a tuk tuk and Ericka was laying across a few people. Dara was looking down at her and he raised his little arm up like he was about to hit her. In an instant I saw him make the conscious decision to instead gently caress her face. I cannot tell you how proud of him I was in that moment! There are countless other strides I could mention here like how he started actually liking to wash his hands, praying, making friends, listening, etc..
(Dara's two favorite things: motorbikes and boats)
I have been completely honored and humbled to love this little boy. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced this kind of love for a child. But honestly, God has used Dara to completely change me. He’s taught me more about HIS love in this last week than I think I’ve learned in the past two years.
We took Dara out to a few restaurants and each time he would hold the menu in front of him, looking at the pictures and choosing what he wanted to eat. And you know what? He could choose anything he wanted from that menu because we loved him so much and there was no way we could say no. Plus, he would make his way around the table and plant kisses on our cheeks. He was secure in our love.
I think this is the kind of extravagance that God's love holds. .
When we accept the Father’s love that he lavishes on us, we can’t help but be transformed. Our old habits suddenly fade away as we’re made new. There’s nothing that can stop us from experiencing his affections for us—his children. Secure in our Father’s love, there’s no limit to His favor and grace. It just never runs out. There’s abundance.
As God’s been directing each step in Dara’s life, he’s opened doors for him to stay in a safe children’s home. The team and I brought him there yesterday. It was hard. The first thing we spotted when we entered the gate was every young boy’s dream: a soccer field. There were beautiful murals painted all over the walls of the place and we were showed his room. One of the older boys in charge of his particular room looked into my eyes and said, “don’t worry about him. I will take care of him.”
We prayed over Dara and kissed and kissed and kissed him goodbye. A boy about seven or eight years old asked him if he wanted to play soccer and with that great, big, beautiful smile, he agreed and ran toward the ball.
(Dara seeing his new room)
(praying over our little man)
(future soccer star!)
Dara, I will never forget you. You have changed my life with your love. God has a future for you greater than you or I could ever dream. I pray that you’ll grow into a boy that will know the real love that comes from the One who created you. Trust Him with your life. You are known. You are loved extravagantly. You are the most special and wonderful kid I’ve known. I am so thankful for you. I know I will see you again.
Read Megan’s beautiful post about this precious one.
