Monday, January 30, 2012

An Uncle's Perspective

As a His Little Feet Road Staff member one of my responsibilities is to care for and watch over two boys. The past leg of the tour my two boys were Tariku (Ethiopia) and Javier (Honduras).

I love both of them very much and I am continually reminded of the gravity and care that my job bears every time I hear them say “Uncle Drew.”  Yet at the same time, I laugh a lot and have much to make me smile every day.

Just to see Tariku’s beaming smile brightens my spirits. His energy is like God’s mercy and to understand you shall have to go read Psalm 136. Recently he came to the staff as we were talking one night and declared, “Uncle Drew- need more toilet napkins!” 

Tariku prays. And when he does, he is serious and there is no guile in his heart. Radiant as he is, he is attentive and receptive to the things of God.
    
Javier is quite the different side of the coin from Tariku. He is much quieter and would rather stay inside than go climb every tree in the universe. Yet he often extends his hand to help Tariku and be the “big brother.”

What a wonderful blessing it has been to see these two boys grow together and learn to love one another, although they come from completely opposite sides of the world. What a great God we serve!
Uncle Drew from North Carolina

Day 102: The boys of His Little Feet made something very special for the four girls in the choir to show them honor as sisters in Christ.

The girls each received a beautiful picture of themselves in a frame with personal, encouraging words written by the boys in the choir.



the boys watching the girls receive their gifts
 
How beautiful it is to see God show these children how to love Him and each other more every day.


Monday, January 23, 2012

Day 95: Best friends, Mahder from Ethiopia and Gracia from Honduras, "ice skating" on a recent walk in Colorado



Simple Faith

In the past week, the His Little Feet team has been rejoicing over 10-year-old Tsion from Ethiopia and her decision to follow Christ with her whole heart. Auntie Brooke was with her to guide her through the Word and teach her about what giving her life to Christ means.

A few days later Tsion wanted to tell another auntie about the decision she had made for Jesus, but was struggling to find the words in her newly-learned, limited English vocabulary. Finally, as if she was gearing herself up for a big endeavor, she said, “Ok. One, two, three- Jesus my heart come!”

Her news was received by this auntie (and all of her caregivers here) with such joy and wonder at the simplicity of a child’s understanding and expression of the Gospel. God truly has revealed Himself to the least of these, including children and those vulnerable around the world.

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”- Jesus (Mark 10:14)

Monday, January 16, 2012

Tuck-In Testimony: When Children Pray

The children of His Little Feet love to pray, and I have to allow plenty of time every night for all to pray!

They will each pray in Amharic or Spanish, and I will pray in English. Even though I can’t understand most of their prayers, they touch me because I can see their love for the Lord, their fervency, and their faith that God answers prayers.

They like to pray for all of the children and the aunties and uncles by name. A word I hear a lot in the Amharic prayers that I recognize is “amasiginhalow” (written how it sounds), which means “thank you”. They are so grateful for what the Lord has done for them, rescued them from, and given them.

They have truly experienced having nothing, and then being given everything. Therefore they can probably more easily understand that without Christ, life is hopeless, and with Jesus Christ we have everything.

from Auntie Carrie

Day 88: Mahder and Auntie Annie

Monday, January 9, 2012

I will not leave you as orphans: I will come to you!

Have you ever rocked an orphan child to sleep as they grieved the loss of their loved ones? To look into the eyes of an orphan child weeping and grieving because they miss their loved ones is unforgettable. The pain is deep and the process of healing is long.

However, this past December, as we celebrated Christmas with the 14 orphan children in the choir, we celebrated the promise that God gives in John 14:18-21:

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

What a beautiful moment it was to see the Lord speak to the orphan children in the choir as they heard the Word spoken, “I will not leave you as orphans: I will come to you.” The magnitude of this message to the children permeated and comforted their hearts in a way that none of us can supply…only the Lord! 

This Christmas the orphan children of His Little Feet celebrated the gift of Jesus coming to them as their Savior and as their Father. The Lord’s presence and provision Christmas day filled all of our hearts with joy, peace and hope!

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39

Day 81: The boys playing baseball.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Smiles and Spaghetti

His Little Feet is SO thankful to all of the host homes and churches who provide meals for the team! We couldn't do what we do without you!

During my first tour with His Little Feet (2010-2011), I consumed more than my fair share of spaghetti, much to the amusement of all who heard about it. Well, on this current tour, it has gone to a new extreme. Tsion, Mahder, and I were served spaghetti at our first 6 host homes IN A ROW.

Total, to date, we have had spaghetti ten times during our first few weeks on tour. I have decided that it is too consistent to be coincidence. It has to be either a conspiracy conceived by my mischievous fellow staff, or God’s sense of humor.

On one particular Sunday, I had the joy of having spaghetti two times in the same day! We had spaghetti for lunch at the church we performed at in the morning. At another church for the evening service, Auntie Kourtney and I were headed to dinner, and were wondering what was on the menu.

Kourtney said, “I wonder if it’s spaghetti? Wouldn’t that be funny?!” 

With a wry smile, I replied, “I hope not!” 

As we neared the dining hall, the smell of spaghetti sauce filled the air. Sure enough- on each plate was a big pile of pasta with red sauce and meatballs. 

Overcome with giggles, we had to compose ourselves before entering.  I ate my spaghetti with a smile on my face, thoroughly enjoying every bite.

Though it is a source of amusement to many, God has used these frequent spaghetti meals to teach me a lesson or two.

For example, Tsion and Mahder do not seem to have noticed that the majority of our dinners are spaghetti. They have never commented or complained, but instead have thoroughly enjoyed it. This made me think about the fact that they are used to eating the same food over and over again.

In America, we have the privilege of a wide variety of foods, and the majority of the world does not. In fact, most of the world would be thankful to have food enough to satisfy their hunger, no matter what kind it is.

Growing up in an orphanage, Tsion and Mahder do not think twice about having the same food multiple times in a row. Now every time I eat spaghetti it reminds me of those who are hungry all over the world and do not even have enough to satisfy their hunger, let alone 3 meals a day. Spaghetti now reminds me to be thankful for God’s constant provision in my life. 

So the next time, and every time from now on that I am served spaghetti, I will think of it not as a coincidental abundance of pasta, but as a smile from God.

-story by Auntie Carrie

Day 74: Gracia, Zaira Eyob and Nahagi hanging out together.