Well, I guess I can start by just saying I don't know where to start.
Joan. His name is Joan. I have seen lots of poverty. I have seen hungry kids. I've seen sick kids. But this wasn't just another kid.
I guess he first caught my attention when we were doing a presentation in La Montañita one Thursday. All the other kids were playing and running and laughing. Joan was asleep on the ground. The kids were making lots of noise and he didn't notice anything. Something deep in me broke when I saw him there with his mouth open on the dirty floor. His hair was an orangy colour and his stomach was swollen, but his arms and legs were very skinny. Snot covered his face and his breathing was a struggle. I went over and I picked him up and just let him sleep in my arms for a few hours. When he woke up, he was kinda out of it. He didn't smile or even notice when any of the other kids talked to him. To me, there just seemed to be very little life in his sweet brown eyes. Not the life that should be found in a two year olds eyes. I never heard him make any sound except for one cry. I just felt the need to pour love on him so I continued to snuggle him and he sat contently in my arms for hours.
After we left that day, he continued to be on my mind and in my heart. I felt moved and like I needed to take action. That night I called and described to my mom what I had seen. She told me that he sounded very malnourished, protein deficient and sick. He needed a doctor and as fast as possible. I talked with our host and we took him to the doctor two days later, Saturday, but the doctor was on Christmas holidays. They told us to come back monday. I still felt the need to do something, anything, so we went and bought some chicken and some milk and brought them back home. On the way back after eating, Joan fell asleep on his moms lap. Still no energy.
All the time, this kid was in my heart. I was constantly praying just that God would multiply that little bit of chicken and vitamins and give him strength. That God could restore his little body and heal him. Breathe life and joy back into him. That I could see a smile and a laugh.
The very next day, Sunday, we were in his batey again working with the women there doing a beauty day. Joan's mom, Jocelyn, came. I went outside to see if her kids were around and one kid ran by me with a ball. Running. Laughing. Throwing the ball to his sister. As I looked closer, I realized that was a laugh on a smiling face. A face I was praying to seeing a smile on. My favourite face. He played for a few hours with me and his sweet big sister, throwing a ball, running and jumping into my arms, laughing as I tickled him, and talking to me. I heard his voice, I saw his smile, I saw life. My miracle boy. Praise God! He brings LIFE.
There are no words to describe the joy I felt that day. True, deep joy from deep down in me. God- You blow my mind. A little chicken, a little love, and a whole lot of Jesus.
We went to pick him up Monday he still had lots of smiles in him. I think he is the cutest human I have ever seen. We took him to the doctor and the mom told her that he has had amoebas that he got from drinking dirty water and has been untreated for a while. The doctor just really encouraged the mom to continue making sure he gets lots of fruits, eggs, and good food. She stressed the importance of hygiene which is definitely a struggle where they live. Things that we take for granted. They have no running water and since she doesn't have money, she can't buy water daily. The doctor sent us to get some tests done and we went and got them. That was a really hard experience for me (probably because I'm a doctor's kid) and just seeing the way they went about taking blood and the lack of true interest in Joan. He was really upset and in pain after the blood test and curled up in my lap. The first thing that came to my head was to sing this sweet boy the song "You are my sunshine". So that's what I did. When I was little, my dad used to sing me that song often. I think God placed that song in my heart at that moment to just show how much He truly loves this boy and cares for him because he doesn't have an earthly father. So, thanks for that, Daddy :) God used you. After we went and got the tests, we went and bought some food- fruits, eggs, milk. We brought them home.
The test results came back showing the amoebas and really just his need for good food. He needs to grow as a normal kid and be strong.
Even after all this, I felt it wasn't finished. That somehow this was something I had been broken for, but I was still feeling this brokenness and compassion. He continued to show up in my thoughts and prayers and one morning I woke up with him so strongly on my heart. I was so overwhelmed by emotion and couldn't stop crying. After talking and praying with my mom, my leaders, and Kenisha- I felt peace. Kenisha's words and prayers truly brought revelation. She encouraged me in saying that because I am so broken and have so much compassion towards this family, that she believes I am also holding a solution. My God has strategies and I believe with all my heart that He wouldn't break me without helping me see change- without giving me a solution. Kenisha described me as their "next puzzle piece". I don't know what the next step is, but it's all in His timing and in His hands. I know it is not finished and I know God is holding that family close. I know He has grace on them. Because Psalm 72:13 says, "He will take pity on the poor and needy; the lives of the needy He will save." Kenisha told me that my tears were not shed in vain. God brings purpose to this broken world. Their lives has such value to Him. I know change is coming.
I ask for everyone to continue to keep my boy Joan in your prayers. He is so precious to me and I wish everyone could see his smile and hear his laugh. My prayer is that God would bring me a solution and peace as I wait on Him. Strength rises as we wait. My God is able and He is faithful.
Sleeping in my arms.
The day we went for chicken!
That sweet smile. My favourite smile :)
I love you so much, precious boy.
