There's nothing like a Saturday at New Life Children's Home to remind me that despite the ups and downs of change--new home, new roomie, new school, new students--I am just where the Lord wants me. While I always enjoy my time at NLCH, sometimes the drive itself if...well...rather stressful. Last weekend, the trip took an entire hour. Today before I left the house, a friend said she'd pray I made it there quickly. I couldn't help but smile along the way as the road was SO clear and empty (comparatively)! It only took about a half hour. :)
Because the trip went so quickly, I had plenty of time to hang out with the kids before we had lunch. I went first to visit the little boys house. As soon as I walked in, I was pulled by two little guys upstairs to where everyone was watching a movie. Then, on the way to lunch, the newest addition to our Home--Jason Alejandro--saw me and ran up to me with a big smile! :D That was huge. Until today, I was just another white face that tried to give him too many hugs and kisses. I carried him over to the dining room where I met up with everyone else and joined the little girls at their table for lunch. Our lunch for the day was was black beans and rice. Simple as it is, black beans have become a comfort food for me because they remind me of all the peaceful, joyful days I've spent at NLCH. So, I enjoyed my very Guatemalan lunch.
After lunch, I helped some of the boys to do their chores of cleaning the tables in the dining room. Then we all went out to the playground where we thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful, sunny day the Lord blessed us with! There was lots of swinging and playing chase, accompanied by lots of smiles and laughter. There's nothing quite so tiresome and yet quite so peaceful as a game of tag with a little guy just old enough to be way faster than you! :) Once I tired of the game of tag, I sat down in the rocks with little Jason Alejandro. Jason is nearly 4 yrs old, but he's physically very tiny and sometimes chooses to crawl rather than walk, and he's mute. At least for now. Tests have revealed that he has no physical impairments, rather he was just never stimulated before so he's never learned to talk. I love working with children who have speech difficulties, and I love signing with those who cannot talk, so I'm pretty excited about developing a relationship with Jason Alejandro. Today one of the house mom's left just the two of us to play together on the playground. It was wonderful to hear him TRYING to talk! For a bit, he even echoed me as I counted rocks, though his echoes were not recognizable as any particular letter sound.
Later I took Jason Alejandro back over to his house, but we continued playing outside with some of the girls. While we were playing, I heard a semi-recognizable word from Alejandro!!! The first and only recognizable word I've heard him say!!! As his big brother rode away on the bike, he waved and said "Adio" (adios)!!! Praise the Lord! He said it again quite a few times throughout the afternoon.
As I was preparing to leave this evening, I gave hugs and kisses to all the little ones. As I was saying good-bye to our sweet one-year-old Gabby, I made the mistake of saying "besos" (kisses). Usually we give kisses on the cheek. Gabby doesn't quite have the kiss thing just yet, and her kisses are more like her pushing her open mouth up against your cheek. Well, as I went to kiss her on the cheek, she tried to kiss me too...which resulted in a wet slobbery "kiss" on my lips! :P I couldn't help but laugh...a lot!
I'm so grateful for each and every child and staff member the Lord has brought to work at NLCH. Today as I cuddled with one of the little boys while watching the movie, I just smiled and said a prayer of thanks to the Lord. Then it crossed my mind...this is what I was made for. This is what the Lord has called me to. And I couldn't be more grateful!
