Little breakthrough

Today was a special day for me. There was a young boy who came to Beautiful Gate just before we left for our trip. Our volunteer, Paige, has been observing him for the past week and noticed that he has not been talking or showing any emotions. I decided to go ahead and try to give him some extra attention today and see if I could help him feel more comfortable here at Beautiful Gate. He was standing alone on a sidewalk during playgroup and watching the other kids playing. I got a soccer ball and put it in his hands, and then motioned with my feet that I would like him to kick the ball to me.

He did kick the ball to me twice but he did so very unenthusiastically. Then he picked up the ball and indicated to me that he would rather play catch. I caught the ball and then went over to him and helped him hold his hands the right way so he would have a chance to catch the ball too. He looked up at me and had such a look of trust on his face that I felt myself melting a little inside. We played catch for a bit and then he went and sat down for snack time.

There was a school group visiting today and they sang a song to the kids and after they finished one of the songs, he said the word Alleluia (which they had just sung). I was clapping my hands right next to him and he also clapped his hands and swayed back and forth a little. I remember Paige looked over at me with a shocked expression. After the singing, he grabbed another item for me to play catch with and if my hands weren't ready when he was ready to throw it, he said something to me in Sesotho. It was such an awesome day!! By the time I had left playgroup, he had smiled, played, talked and danced which Paige had not seen him do for over a week and she is volunteering in his house. She said when he came home from playgroup and heard the radio playing, he actually swayed a little to the music.

It is days like this that make everything worthwhile. God has us here for such a time as this. He wanted me here to connect with these kids and care for them during this season of their life while they are waiting for their family to come. I praise God for moments like this where we have a tangible way to understand why we are here!