One week ago as I was leaving the street children programs I saw a tiny, skinny little boy walk past me swaying uneasily and holding a whiskey bottle full of Chenge, the drug of choice for street children. I realized with a start that it was Yahaya and called after him. He stopped, looked around, and at seeing me stopped as emotions flooded into his face. Recognition, shame, fear, and then… hope. He rushed to me and gave me a hug, melting into me and whispering over and over, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry for leaving, please forgive me.” My heart felt like it was going to explode with love at the lost little boy clinging to me, he was my little boy and nothing would ever change that.
When Yahaya had run away from our home he had gone straight to doing drugs like he always had and he hid from us and any place he knew we might find him. The moment I saw him God flooded back into me the enormous love I had for that dirty, raggedy, high little child standing in front of me. He was amazing, and I love him. I took him out to eat and as he was eating I couldn’t help but look at him and wonder at the amazing person that God had created him and mourn over the loss he had already experienced. He had lost his parents, his home, his childhood, and his innocence. His eyes were glazed over as he told me he was staying in a movie hall (where men come to watch bad movies). He asked if he could come back and I said yes, we loved him and wanted him home. I asked him to come to the programs so that we could bring him from there but he did not. Early the next morning he walked himself all the way back home where he was greeted home with open arms.
Yahaya does not know how to be a child. He doesn’t know how to play all the games that Ugandan children play here, he doesn’t know how to play cards, play with friends, he doesn’t even know how to play soccer with the other boys. He has never been able to play before. He has never had a mother read to him or give him a hug. He is in our home but he is still alone. He stays to himself and doesn’t want anyone getting close to him. He is such a wounded kid, he is still trying to protect himself from the abuse and abandonment that he is sure must be coming soon. God has finally brought him into a home and a family, he just hasn’t realized it yet.
Praise God for bringing home this lost little sheep! PLEASE pray for Yahaya that he will feel and accept God’s as well as our love. If he doesn’t there will be nothing to hold him back from running to the streets again. I see such an exceptional heart in Yahaya. A sensitive heart that loves deeply and loyally, that is compassionate and hurts for others that are hurting. God created him so uniquely and wonderfully. The streets will turn that heart into stone if he lives there much longer and I know that it feels so scary to him to trust and love when it has only caused him pain in the past. Please pray that Yahaya will stay in our home and grow up there. We want him to stay home with us
In other news, Kateregga Derrik and Bashir Agaba, two amazing kids in our home, are going on a missions trip with our church to The Democratic Republic of Congo this December 7th. They should be receiving their passports tomorrow. They both have a love of God and His word and want to be pastors when they grow up. Please pray that they have a fruitful and safe trip sharing the Good News!
We are moving into our new home this coming Monday and so Lord willing, will be bringing home more boys off of the street then as well. Please pray that God will give us wisdom as to which boys are to come home with us as we have so many wonderful kids in our programs, only God can choose!