Sometimes
it is hard to find hope when you are surrounded by poverty, desperation and
brokenness day in and day out. Yet God
always gives me a glimpse of his plan, of his redeeming power. This week it came in the form of a little boy
named Atoka. He is one of the children I
see each time we visit Smile Africa, and he has captured my heart
entirely. When we visited in January I
met this little boy, naked, with a bloated, mal-nourished belly. He was so sweet but needed so much. After leaving, I thought that I would never
get the chance to see him again, but God is good.
On
returning to Smile Africa, I looked around and finally found Atoka. I can’t even begin to describe the change in
this beautiful little boy. First off, he
was clothed and his belly was much smaller. He was more nourished, much
healthier looking, and so happy. And
beyond that, he remembered me! When I
saw him, he ran into my arms and stayed there for the remainder of the
day. Sometimes I think that what we are
doing isn’t making an impact on anyone, and then God gives me a gift like
Atoka.
He is
simply put one of the happiest, most beautiful little boys I have ever met,
inside and out. Though we don’t speak the same language, we have come up with a
way of communicating with smiles, facial expressions and pointing. We play, tickle, and at the end of the day,
he is asleep in my arms. I would stay in
Africa for him, that is if I couldn’t just
wrap him up and take him home with me, never to be separated again. Yet I have to trust that God will continue to
provide for him and that if it is His will, to bring us together again
someday. Until then, I will enjoy every
smile, every hug, and every funny little moment. Please pray for my little Atoka, the little
boy who has captured my heart.
Atoka Last January
Atoka this April, what a change! Praise God!
