1 - I got to be a "messenger" of life-changing news yesterday to Sululu (this hero of a lady who has taken in children to her home with reckless abandon, and has given up almost everything that she had so these children could be cared for.). She was completely at the end of her rope, and was faced with having to sell what she had here in Arandis and move the children to a cheaper but less secure location just so she could hold onto them. This house - worth about $3,000 to $4,000 US - is the only real possession that she had left to sell. But God provided a different way, and I was able to participate in delivering some good news to her. Our ministry will help her and her children both financially and in other ways. And the highlight for me was personally handing to her, in cash, the amount she needed to pay off the remaining bank note and get the house in HER name once and for all! Her children will ALWAYS have a place to live now, and no one can lawfully take that away from her.
We love this lady, and have chosen to lock arms with her. She is truly living the call of God and has given up EVERYTHING to take care of these children. We were able to tell her now that she "is not alone" - and back that up with action.
Truly, my role was only one of obedience to God's will and nothing more. Honestly. But, to even play a role at all was a huge boost to my heart. She told me later, "when I was at the end of my rope, you tied the knot for me. I would have had nothing to hold on to were it not for you." I took the opportunity to point to God as the one who was the real provider. I sure didn't want to take the glory away from God in this.
This had a HUGE impact on my heart. If asked by someone "why did you move your family half-way across the world to a dry and dirty place like Arandis?" I would say nothing. I would just take them to visit Sululu's children. They ask for nothing. Nothing! But they have real, genuine need. Food, clothing, housing - yes. But more than that, they need people who demonstrate to them by their actions just how special they are. I have grown VERY close to her children. Some have even begun to call me "dad" sometimes. One of them wrote to me recently that I am the only "father" that they've ever had. Not many things make me cry. That one did.
Yesterday was an extremely emotional day for them - and for me as well.
2 - That story was awesome, but also meaningful to me personally were all the birthday cards Sululu's kids made for me. Take a look at the one below from Franciska (11 yrs old)...
Yep - that bald man in the big hat is supposed to be me. :-)
I am still in the reverie of the moment...
1 comment:
some things one can put a price on. some things- you can't. a card like that is something that can't be valued using earthly terms.
you're are rich in every sense of any meaningful term because of those kids and your personal identity will be lost as it fades into those kids.
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