A birthday story

I will be the first to confess that I have been judgemental. I have allowed a few to warp my view of the whole. The stories that I have heard of police looking for bribes, dropping kids at other care centers so they do not have to do the paperwork and follow-up we request at BG, police doing nothing when people desperately need help, and many other stories. These stories are very true and happen often, but that does not mean that all police are corrupt and heartless. As a matter of fact there are many who love and care for their fellow citizens as well as the orphans and children of Lesotho. Today's story was the most touching story I have ever witnessed between a "stranger" and a child and I feel that it needs to be shared.

Yesterday, one of our BG children had her first birthday and a police officer came to say he wanted to pay her a visit. He said that he brought her here about a year ago and wanted to see how she was growing. The volunteer at the office did not know him and he did not have his badge or anything so she politely asked if he could return tomorrow.

Today, he came back to visit the little girl and it was such a special and sweet moment (he talked with the necessary office staff this time to set up the visit). He brought her two outfits, a pair of sandals, a doll and some cheese puffs. He held on to her and kissed her cheeks. Our program manager introduced me to him and I asked about what kept her in his mind over the past year. He told me that he got a call from someone telling him that they found a child in a pit toilet. When he got to the scene, he had to get her out and brought her to Beautiful Gate. He gave her the name Precious and he said that it made quite an impression on him. I enjoyed watching him hold her and try to make her laugh. What an amazing story. A police officer finding an infant in a pit toilet and remembering her birthday a year later, bringing her gifts and visiting her at her orphanage.

I thank God for moments like this where He can restore my trust and faith in a police officer in Lesotho. I took a photo of him so that I can record this story and give it to her when she gets adopted. God has a way of bringing people together!