Encouraging Moments

This week Bryan and I had a few encouraging moments and I want to share them with you.

The first is that I got to meet the little boy I posted about 2 days ago. My friend brought him over to my house and when he saw me, he made a little grunting noise and help his arms out to me so I could take him from her. It melted my heart that he wanted me to hold him and it also squeezed my heart with pain to see his swollen stomach and tiny arms and legs. He is so tiny, but he seems to have such a fighting spirit. He is a beautiful boy and holding him and seeing him brought me peace and encouragement that nothing is impossible for God!

Bryan had a major breakthrough in his relationship with one of the BG children this week too. For 5 months, he has been driving her to school and picking her up almost everyday. He always says hi and smiles at her and tries to talk to her and she NEVER talks back to him. It has always bothered him that she keeps her distance and does not seem to want to trust him so each day he has continued to greet her. Tuesday, when he picked her up from school he greeted her in Sesotho and she actually greeted him back! It may not seem like much but for Bryan this is a big step for her to begin to trust him.

My final encouraging moment that I am so happy to share is about a little girl I met 6 months ago here at Beautiful Gate. She was around a year old, and every time I saw her she looked depressed. She would not make eye contact and if I picked her up, she would go limp in my arms. I have not let this discourage me though because I was very concerned that she has detachment symptoms. Each week, I'd pick her up and she would continue to look away and go limp. I'd sit by her at playgroup, push her on the swing and on the merry go round, but she continued to look sad and never smiled or looked like she was having any fun. Last week, I saw her really smile for the first time and wow, what a reward to see that smile. Then this week on Wednesday, she put her arms up to initiate me picking her up. When I picked her up she smiled at me and did not go limp in my arms. Then I played with her and she laughed, real belly laughs and I just about cried with joy. I played with her again yesterday and she was the same way laughing when I chased her and smiling at me. I feel like God has given me the best gift ever with that smile and laugh. I am so encouraged that she is going to bond well with her new parents whomever they might be! They are very lucky because she is precious.
Anita