Play Date

We began Friday morning with a s­­urprise visit from Pastor Paul from the village of Kakira, inviting us to come back tomorrow morning to meet with his church there, cut a cake, and describe all that God has called us to at Chayah Home. We met for our devotional time together and it was so perfectly fitting where we are at this point, that we were moved to really pray for protection, discernment, and a great covering over Chayah’s home.

We left the hotel, leaving our youngest team member and his mama here to deal with some fever issues. We headed into town to purchase the last few boards for the outdoor kitchen and to follow up with Paul the carpenter…I will confess that at this point I was really thinking more beat up than follow up, but the Holy Spirit stepped in and spared his life. But imagine his surprise when we nearly walked right into him on the street where our guys were buying lumber. “Today,” I told him, “All of the kids will sleep in their beds today!” “Yes, yes” he replied in a probably- not sort of tone. “At 2pm, we shall be there.” “Bring lots of men, so that they are all assembled tonight!” “Yes yes, we shall be there”. So imagine our shock when no one arrived at 2pm or 3pm, 4, 5 or even 6pm. So we stayed at the house…no way I was leaving that place without a little stink-eye ministry for Mr. Paul. As the sun was setting, I suggested Janet bring as many solar lamps from the house that they would need, so there would be no excuses for leaving before every last bed was in place.

Ah, but I skip ahead…the day was actually filled with so many wonderful moments. With the majority of the projects nearly done, there was plenty of time today to just play with the kids. I met Janet at “Good Shepherd’s School” where she had walked 16 little ducks early in the morning to begin the testing for grade level and school registration. Several failed to pass their tests, meaning they would be starting at the beginning or repeating a grade. The school was nice, clean and organized. We arranged to bring them all back on Monday to fit them for uniforms and pay for their school fees. Janet sent our small tribe home with John, Edrine, and Melissa overseeing them on the ½ mile walk back home. Janet and I finished up and then we talked and walked the red dirt road back to the house. Our own building team had finished up the last of the kitchen and lunch was served. Hygiene class for the second group happened today, photos were printed for their string galleries on each of their beds. Fabric scraps were turned into clothing for Chayah Critters, and we loved that the little ones wanted their babies strapped to their backs, just as they had probably been carried. We got out the cards and played Uno, War, and made houses of cards on the carpet. Our men taught them “Ninja” and another game called over and under. We tossed a soccer ball with a sheet and used it as a parachute. Kids were swung in a blanket and puzzles were done and redone. Signs were made for beds, and all the keys were colored coded with nail polish for Janet. We played a couple of rounds of “spoons” and the 4 with the worst malaria were taken again today to the clinic for their final injections. They are all acting like they feel well, running, laughing, hugging, eating, singing, and dancing.

Plumbing started leaking and another clothes line was put up. Henry the existing caretaker finally left today. Janet had been preparing this young man for leaving, but every day the beds were delayed, he was allowed to stay in the empty room outside. His room was scrubbed down and if all goes well; the beds will be in that room tonight. God protect him if our boys are not sleeping in that room…Oh I kid… sort of.

The kids worked on sponsor gifts, and toe nails were painted. A day with a slower pace is just what we needed.

Evan, our first to head out tomorrow, lead us in prayer outside in the back yard. We gathered this new family into the center, Janet and Mary our cook included, then the 8 of us prayed for protection, love, and that a real sense of Jesus, and who He is would arise from this home. That the Holy Spirit’s presence would lead and guide Janet and the older ones, that the older boys would be Godly examples to the younger boys and also that they would grow to be great examples to the girls of a Godly man.

We want so much for them, but are so very grateful, that we cannot even imagine what God wants and has in store for these darlings.

I Corinthians 2:9 says “No eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him.”

We know it’s true. We could never have imagined such an opportunity. To see into the eyes of suffering and be a part of a community at home that believes God can save and rescue and redeem and then acts on that belief. This human mind could never have conceived such joy.