If We are Faithless, He Remains Faithful

Today I marvel at how faithful the Lord is. Kelsey and I are adjusting quickly, but there are still moments that are hard and trying. Life in Africa is so much more relaxed and slow-paced. At first, it was very difficult for me to adjust to that lifestyle when I was so used to life at Baylor where I was constantly hanging out with people, studying, or going to class. But even just from this first week we have been here I have felt the Lord’s presence more than I ever have in my life. All the quiet moments I have throughout the day I try to fill with prayer, thanks, and time in the Word. So many of the prayers that I have had while being here just this one week have already been answered and I am in awe of how prevalently He is continuing to work through Kelsey and I.

Things are finally becoming comfortable and the kiddos’ personalities are becoming more visible. One sweet boy, I mentioned in my previous post, has really captured my attention and stolen my heart.

Walter is about 7, I think, and came to Ekisa a little less than a year ago.  Before he came here, he was abused by someone (probably a parent) pouring acid all over his body, which melting his skin. Walter is so incredibly smart, however, his disability is physical. He LOVES playing with blocks, painting, and learning new things. I cannot imagine how frustrating it must be to live life in a place where all the children around you that are your age are not mentally on the same level. Most of the time he is running around the yard, laughing, and playing tricks on his new Aunties (Kelsey and I) but there are other moments where I see in his eyes how much he longs to be loved and cared for. I see in those eyes how much his physical appearance must frustrate him, how when we walk down the street and children stare and he knows that he doesn’t look like them. Sometimes it seems like Walter is spoiled rotten, but then I realize that he, of all the children, needs a lot of love because of what he has gone through. He has so much potential to do great things, to find a family who loves him, and to tell others his story and the beauty of God’s grace that exudes from his heart. I pray for this sweet boy, that he may know how much he truly is loved, by those at the orphanage, but also by his heavenly Father who cherishes his son, no matter what he looks like. This precious boy has already blessed me and taught me so much. I pray also for myself, that I will be observant to the needs and type of love each child needs, for they are all so different. Each child at Ekisa is so precious in the eyes of the Lord, and I just wish I could love them with as much compassion as their heavenly Father does. But the best I can do is to continue seeking the Lord and learning His character, and through discovering more of the Lord, that the love my Jesus has for me would overflow onto these kids. They deserve the Father’s love as much as anyone, and I feel my purpose here is to show that to them.

Recently, I was encouraged to read 2 Timothy, which has literally been changing the way I view each day after I read it every morning.

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”

2 Timothy 1:8-9

What a beautiful picture, and prayer, of how we should ALL be living our lives. Our God is so faithful and we are all beyond blessed to have opportunity to serve Him each and every day.

More pictures coming soon :) Love and miss you all!

-Caroline