So, something I’ve been trying to do
every month is ask God my purpose. Why am I here? What do you have
for me? It took me a few days in Cambry to figure it out, but I
eventually did. His name is Zachary. On our first day visiting the
orphanage he ran up and grabbed my hand and walked with me during the
whole tour. I eventually ended up holding him and he would just
latch himself desperately to my neck. We didn’t spend a lot of time
together that day, but I knew I wanted to spend more time with him.
It was his eyes. They were so big and sad. He didn’t smile the
whole time we were together, he just held my neck and kept himself
close to me.
It wasn’t until our second day staying
at the orphanage, that I was able to see him again and spend more
time with him. Again, he just wanted to be held. Again, I was
haunted by his eyes. He’s so young to have such sad eyes. I
couldn’t help but wonder what his young eyes had seen. How much had
this little boy been through? He wasn’t having fun and smiling like
the other kids. He was always so sad and melancholy. He never
played.
It didn’t take long for this boy to
stir up some feelings in my heart that I thought were long dormant.
I’m finding myself loving this little sad boy in ways I didn’t think
I could. Not because he’s the funnest or the cutest, but because he
needs it. That’s when I knew that God brought me here to pour into
and love this little boy. Because God has been supernaturally loving
this boy through me in ways I knew I couldn’t do. Almost everyday we
spent over an hour just holding each other. During that time I would
pray over him. I would pray life and blessings over him. That he
would grow in faith and stature. Thursday, I was caught off guard
while I was praying for him. I was praying the normal prayer, but
that day I felt led to pray that any spirit or demonic influence that
was causing his depression and sadness to leave in the name of Jesus.
As soon as I finished saying that he kicked his leg. I thought
“maybe its a coincidence”. I prayed that prayer three times.
Each time he kicked. Now, I’m not very knowledgeable on matters of
spiritual warfare but that’s not a coincidence. I also don’t find
it a coincidence that I had been spending time with him for almost a
week and it wasn’t until after this prayer that Zachary started
smiling and opening up more. This past Monday I noticed he was
feeling weaker then normal. I suspected this whole time he didn’t
feel very good and I had seen these little blisters under his chin,
but whenever I would ask him if they hurt the response was always no.
But Monday I decided to take him to the clinic at the orphanage to
see if there was anything they could do for him. Once the nurse came
in she checked him out and agreed there was something wrong. She
prescribed him a multi-vitamin and amoxicillin and gave it to his
house mom. I’m praying that I’ll start seeing a healthier Zachary
before I leave.
I’m so thankful to God. So often when
God calls you to pour into someone like this, you are not there to
see the fruits of your labor. But over the past week or so I have
noticed improvements in Zachary’s behavior and moods. Thursday,
after the prayer, I had to go to the market so I left him with
Stephanie. When I got back he saw me through the window and he
started running towards me and smiling! Two firsts: the first time I
saw him smile and the first time I saw him run. I almost cried, and
for those of you who know me know that I don’t cry. I’m also
noticing that he’s becoming more social. I often see him walking and
talking with other boys. It’s such an awesome thing to firsthand see
the healing power of God’s love for this boy. I still don’t know
what’s in Zachary’s past, but I’m starting to see that it doesn’t
matter. Nothing is too far gone for Christ’s love to bring back to
Him and restore freedom.
So please be in prayer for Zachary and
I. For Zachary, that he would experience the freedom that Christ
offers and all the love, hope and joy that goes along with it. And
for me, that I would be strong enough to love this boy with
everything I have. Also that God would speak to me with specifics on
how to love him and what He wants me to do for Zachary. Thank you
for your prayers and support.
