Our last week at Happy Tree, I met Sok Leap (pronounced Lee-up). He is 10 years old (I think). I don’t really know much about him. I couldn’t tell you about his family or how long he has been at the orphanage. He is an orphan and has HIV. But, that is not what broke my heart. What broke my heart for him is the fact that Leap is also Deaf. In a household of nearly 100, he is only person who cannot hear.
When I first met him, he
was withdrawn, unresponsive and uncooperative. Once I figured out he was Deaf I changed the way I interacted with him. I became highly visual and made sure I had eye contact before trying to communicate with him. Instantly he clung to me. He became my shadow. Leap is so isolated, even in a room crowded with children that any special attention, any attempt to enter his silent world allowed him to come alive. When he saw me again two days later, his face lit up. He ran to me with open arms, hugged me tightly and disappeared. He returned a few minutes later with a handful of flowers from the tree outside. I stuck them in my hair and he smiled proudly.
Through miscommunication, I was under the impression that he did not attend school and knew no sign language. This wrecked me. I thought about him continually, dreamt about him and prayed for him constantly. I wanted nothing more than to take him in, teach him language and just love him.
Thankfully, the Lord gave me the chance to speak with one of the interpreters and find out that he does attend a Deaf school and the director of Happy Tree is learning sign language to know him better. Praise the Lord! This made leaving Phnom Penh infinitely easier, but I still felt burdened for this boy. I know there are so many things he is missing. So many more services that could be provided for him. The problem is there are 90-some other children who also need love and attention, who has the time to research Deaf services in Phnom Penh? By the grace of God I now do!
Throughout the next 10 days, I will be focusing on Leap and finding out what can be done to make lasting improvements to his life. I want him to know that he is noticed, loved and valued. I want him to know that he is a child of God and has a Father who loves him beyond words. If he never remembers that I was there for him, my desire is that he will remember that Jesus was there for him.
Please pray over the next week and a half:
1. That God will multiply my efforts and time.
2. For an ease of communication between the orphanage staff and myself as I try to discern Leap’s story and what is currently being done for him.
3. That the Lord would provide Deaf, Jesus-loving adults who would be willing to pour into him.
4. That it would be possible for the other children to learn some basic sign language and be able to include him more.
5. That the Holy Spirit would burden the heart of one of the staff members specifically for him.
6. That God would give us supernatural communication. That although I don’t know Cambodian sign language, we would be able exchange real thoughts, not merely funny faces and high-fives.
7. Most of all, that Leap would know that he is loved by the Lord and that he would accept the sacrifice Jesus made for him.
