The power of God in The Raining Season

Today was another incredible day. We started at The Covering just playing with the kids and doing activities with them. It is so fun to learn their games and customs and to be able to teach them ours. I took lots of video of them singing, dancing and playing games to share with everyone. At one point Pastor Daniel had out his African drum and the kids were all standing in a circle, singing to Jesus as one child danced in the middle. They have such culture and love. Several of us on the team wondered if our children would stand in a cement building with just a drum, dancing and singing to Jesus for over an hour!

Later in the day we got to be a part of what the orphanage calls an intake process. Quami and Osseh had already been in touch with the family as had the social worker for The Raining Season. By the way, these are three of the most committed men to Christ and children I have ever seen! They simply amaze me!

So we travel across town and stop on a busy road. Just across the road we see the makeshift flats for houses. This is common. We then walk down a rocky, trash filled area to meet the boy and his grandmother. The boy is so scared. He is hiding behind his grandmother's leg. Jason hands him a "lollie" or "sweets" as the kids call them here. The social worker tells me that the boys' mother died during childbirth as did the infant. Sharif has been living with his grandmother and two other siblings since that time. At this point the grandmother decides to show us where they have been living so we traverse back up the rocky hill, across the street and begin walking a steep dirt alley type hill. The people are so poor. When we finally make it to their home, it is nothing more than one room with a filthy mattress on the floor and a broken white plastic lawn chair. All five of them sleep on that one mattress. The room is no bigger than a bathroom. Sharif has been picking up rocks and has several open wounds on his hands that are partially healed but oozing.

Upon arriving there, Sharif is in the home and the social worker asks me if I want to enter it to see inside. I do so and my heart just cries out for this child and his grandmother. His eyes are so big. I can see the fear. I lean near him and just begin speaking of the love of Jesus in his ear. I tell him that he is loved by Jesus. That he is loved by us. That we are here to help him. That we will get him food and water. He nods his head yes as I just whisper these things over and over again to him.

As we begin to leave their home and make our way back to the original encampment area, his grandmother opens her arms to hug me. Tears fill her eyes. The love it must take to admit that you can not physically provide for your grandson. The love it must take to say, "Here take my grandson. You help him." When you look into a person's eyes, you can see that love. She clung so tightly to me. I did not let go but again just reminded her that we would take good care of him and that she is loved.

Finally, after arriving back at the original area, Quami and the social worker go through the process of confirming that these are the wishes of the grandmother and of Sharif. Quami speaks to them in their native language of Krio. At one point the grandmother shakes her head. She is crying and holding my hand. I give her a kleenex and have to show her how to use it to dab her eyes! The tears then just overflow. And then Sharif gets up and takes Quami's hand. Quami tells us that he had said to him, "If you want to come with us, we will provide for you. We will give you a bed. We will give you food. We will give you water. You will have brothers and sisters and aunties and uncles in this new home. If you want to come with us, get up and come with me!" Oh...the tears in my heart over the choice this little six year old just made...the step he took!!!

As we walk up the rocky embankment and out across the street, Sharif grabs my hand. He stays by my side until the social worker takes his hand to lead him to his car and bring him to the promised refuge of The Covering!

Waiting by the car, many children gather to see the "white people". I begin playing a game with the little girls, telling them to touch their head, touch their nose etc. I tell them to reach for the sky and then lightly tickle them as their hands are in the air. They all giggle the most beautiful giggles I have ever heard. As we are about to leave to return and welcome Sharif to The Covering, two little girls look me right in the eyes and say, "I want to come with you too!" My heart melted!!

Later we welcomed Sharif to The Covering. He arrived to wonderful open arms, where fabulous Christian men and women cleaned him and gave him food and water. Osseh went to pick out clothing for him and came back with a pair of blue shorts and a gray baseball t-shirt. The exact items my son Luke had donated to kids in Africa as I packed for this trip!!! Again, my heart melted at God's love!

Sharif was still scared. He was in a new place, with new people. He stayed by me for some time. At one point he wanted to go to his new bed. I walked alone with him to the room where he climbed up onto his bunk bed. I grabbed a picture of Doug and I that I had brought and showed it to him, pointing that it was me in the picture. I then took a piece of tape and attached it to the wall by his bed and the smile he gave me was the most incredible smile I had ever seen. I attached one more picture of Kobe, Luke and Faith and again he smiled!

SIMPLE ACTS. SIMPLE LOVE.

Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loves us. Simple.

Please continue to pray for our Lucy. I have not gotten to go back and see her. There is a very very small possibility that she and some other children could be moved out of the orphanage they are in. I believe God can do this! I am praying that He will do it NOW while I am here! But regardless I will trust in His ways!

The kids at The Covering writing and drawing. Today was a holiday and a day off of school but they love writing and drawing so much they wanted to do it anyway!

The home where Sharif's mother and infant died during childbirth and where he was living with his grandmother and two siblings. Mattress, broken chair, two buckets, maybe five items of clothing total...that sums up their personal belongings!!

Speaking sweet Jesus to Him!

Their house...only the white part!

Sharif in Luke's donated t-shirt at The Covering!

Other updates:

no word on getting Lucy moved. Continue to pray for God's provision for her. She does not EVER leave my mind!!!!

Little Jeneba follows me everywhere at The Covering. I have given her the nickname "shadow". She is adorable and I absolutely love her. Today I said, "Oh if I could just take you home with me, then we could get you to smile!" Todd, a fellow team member said, "What is that about seven who are going home with you now?" :)

A fellow team member, Karen, has stepped up and is sponsoring Matilda's oldest daughter, Olive, so she can go to college!!!!

Geraldine's family traveled miles to come see us and thank us in person for the donation to save her life and give her surgery! All glory was given to God!

And...my husband got boys play off games to officiate!!!!!!!! :)

Love you all!

Jen