Blog July 17, 2017

Happy Monday! As we say to the kids during their break this morning from preschool classes.  We arrived at the Children's Home 10 days ago to a very warm and exuberant welcome from the kids and staff.  Since then the days have been filled with teaching the younger children reading and math readiness skills, reading the new books we brought over and over again, doing writing with the older kids and art with everyone, and getting reacquainted with everyone.  We watched The Queen of Katwe with the older kids last weekend- a true story of a girl growing up in a slum in Uganda who uses her love of the game of chess as a way to overcome many challenges in her life.  The kids could relate to to much of the movie and reacted with a loud cheer when she won the an international chess tournament.  So... as you can imagine, after washing clothes and other chores this weekend, we spend several hours learning to play chess.  Mama University was off to a great start last week with classes on loving and working with orphan children with abandonment and rejection issues- I really love this time with the women who are such a vital part of this ministry.  Sarah has been working with the preschoolers and loves her time with the babies!  Scott is doing physicals on the kids this week and is continuing to work through issues to open the community clinic here in a temporary building.  My favorite time of the day is bedtime- stories, prayer, lots of hugs and kisses until everyone is cozy in their beds to sleep. The sponsor Facetime calls with the kids have been wonderful so far and we are excited to all the children who are sponsored to have this opportunity to connect with and thank their sponsors during this trip.  We have watched some science movies on the human body and God's creation of space with the older kids.  We are so encouraged with the questions from the kids and prayer time with them during nightly Bible Study as well.
   Many of the older kids are beginning to communicate their stories- memories of their families and the nightmares so many of them have lived through before coming to Falco.  I believe we are seeing a miracle of God's healing love and redemption beginning to play out in Joshua (name changed)- a six year old boy from the home.  We met Josh when first coming to Falco over a year and a half ago. We learned from the social worker here that Josh came to Tanzania with his mother, brother and little sister as destitute refugees from Ethiopia when Josh was about two years old.  While begging for food along a road, his older brother was hit by a passing car and killed.  The story goes on that Joshua's mother then abandoned the two younger children.  Josh and his little sister were placed at a government orphanage until Josh aged out at age three.  After coming to Falco, he was diagnosed
with a chronic disease.  A memory is etched in my mind of seeing Josh for the first time a year and a
half ago of a little boy with dark circles under his eyes, his mouth open and almost unresponsive to others around him.  As I watched him in his preschool class, Josh's face was turned toward the ceiling; he did not sing with the other children or seem to be apart of his surroundings.  Josh seemed to be in his own world refusing to be touched or interact with anyone.  My heart went out to this little boy and I have often wondered if the trauma and abandonment he experienced caused him draw deep within himself.  Although Josh grew a little physically each time we visited, I saw no change in affect or desire to connect with others.  When we arrived 10 days ago, I noticed Josh out of the crowd of children right away.  We had committed to pray for him while away and I was excited to talk to the mamas about him.  Josh looked right at us as we approached him and the other kids. Then, for the first time, I saw him smile!  For the next nine days, we made a special effort to talk to Josh many times a day.  He gradually began looking at our faces when we greeted him and sometimes would even bless us with a smile.  Last night while doing the goodnight routine in the little boy's house, I approached Josh's bed very slowly.  He surprised me by scooting closer to the edge of his bunk bed so I could touch his arm.  As every night before, I prayed over him and said, "Good night, Josh! I love you!"  As I turned to leave the room, I heard a small voice softly say, "Love you, too, Mama."  I quickly turned around to hear the other little boys in the room cry out, "It was Josh. He say that.".  Tears came to my eyes as I came to his bed again and touched his face.  The mama who was with me in the boy's room for the night routine came to me and said,"God is so good!"  Yes, yes He is!  Over Josh's time at Falco, God is doing a new work in this precious boy.  God is working His healing power in his mind and heart and helping Josh to come courageously out of himself to connect with others.  The other little boys cheered loudly for Josh from their beds.  We had all witnessed a miracle
in this little boy's life and, once again, were reminded that God is so good even in the midst of such brokeness and pain.