On Friday, one of the uncles was supposed to be going to a prison to look for one of our kids that was taken during the riots. So I was going to get photos developed of the boy so they knew who to look for at the prison. I was told that there was a shop in Kivulu that would print them, but when I got there I found the machine broken. Since I needed medical supplies also, I decided to just go to town and get them printed quickly and get the supplies and return. As I was leaving, 2 of the boys(Ibra and Junior) started walking with me and I told them they could come if they wanted as I was just going very quickly. Two hours later we were finally heading back to Kivulu but those 2 hours were precious. The kids looked a mess and it was obvious they were street kids so everyone was staring and wondering what I was doing. Some even made comments and asked what I was doing. The best part was both of the boys are kind of new so I don't know them so well. It gave me plenty of time to just spend with them and build that relationship. Ibra is a really sweet kid and the time helped me to connect more with him. Junior, is a bit of a handful and always wants attention, no matter if it is good or bad, and doesn't listen very well. Because of this, I find it difficult to connect with him on a regular day because I am always losing my patience with him. This afternoon, he was a perfect angel and so nice and well behaved that I saw another side of him and it really made me love him. The difference of being away from the crowd of kids and not having to fight for my attention made all the difference. Had I not taken them, I would still lose my patience with Junior because I would have never seen a good side to him.
As soon as I got back to Kivulu, Ibra was getting the medical stuff out. A month or so ago, he would be willing to help every day with medical treatments. As of late, he has been kind of distant and not making good choices for himself. Therefore, he hasn't really been with it enough to help or been around. I really love Ibra and he is definitely one of my favorites, so the recent difficult times have really been breaking my heart. I don't know how to help him or to get him to make good choices. So this day when he was completely sober and ready to start medical, I was SO happy. He helped me the whole time and was really good and patient with the boys. He has a good heart and it just reminded me what a good kid he can be and that I shouldn't give up on him, no matter how frustrated I get.
After medical was over, the other boys were going to play soccer. As I was getting ready to go to the field, I saw our youngest boy, Yehaya, laying on the ground. I knew something had to be wrong with him because he is usually a ball of energy, running, screaming and yelling at someone. When he wouldn't respond to me, Ibra helped him to his feet and helped him walk to the clinic. Yehaya makes sure that no one gets close to him. I don't think he has any friends, only boys that tolerate him. Because he is the smallest, he gets picked on a lot, especially since he flips out. The boys think it is funny when he goes into one of his rages(imagine a Tasmanian devil) and many of them will pick on him just so he will flip out. Ibra was so sweet with him and really paying attention to him and making sure he got to the clinic ok. Yehaya is afraid of needles so Ibra sat with him and reassured him and helped him to take his medicine. Even when Yehaya got sick and threw up everywhere, Ibra didn't leave his side. It soon became obvious that the lady at the clinic couldn't help him and we needed to go to the hospital. So an uncle carried him there but Ibra and I were left to tend to him. Since he couldn't walk, Ibra carried him to the lab and to the room, and held him while they were taking his blood. The doctor wanted him to stay over night and I feared he would wake up in the night and try and run. Ibra offered to spend the night in the hospital with him and make sure he was fine. When another boy Matthew found out Yehaya was in hospital, he insisted in staying with him also. I was so proud of them, especially Ibra. He was the boy that day that I know he can be. I wish I saw it more often.
The next day, Saturday, we had planned an outing for the leaders and decided to rent a taxi and take some of the boys with us. We were going to a musical at an international school here. We got Yehaya out of the hospital in time, and so he, Ibra, and Matthew were the first boys chosen. When we got to the church, the uncle had told many boys to go and bathe so they would be ready to go. I wanted John to go, because he is one of my favorites, but sometimes he can be a bit stubborn with the uncles and other boys. Since the uncle knows how much I love him, he told him to get ready and we went with him and 9 other boys. John doesn't really show any emotion to anything and always acts like he is too cool for everything. During the play, both him and Ibra, were on the edges of their seats, so involved and paying so much attention. Regardless of how he acts, he is still just a kid, and it is moments like these that let them forget having to survive the streets and be tough so no one takes advantage of them and just be kids. It was a beautiful thing to see.
On the way back to Kivulu, Richard got really sick. That is where my other post picked up. But again, Ibra was the first to volunteer to stay at the clinic. In a different environment, that kid would be so different. The other day, he told me he wanted to be a doctor. It isn't impossible, but it is going to be difficult for him to make it, which is sad. He would be a great doctor...
God is working in these boys' lives, even if they don't know it or realize it. I pray that He continues to and gives them the strength and courage to do the right thing and make good choices. I hope you will pray for them also.
**If you are interested in supporting me and my mission/work here (everything helps!) you can give online at www.globaltrainingnetwork.org and all donations are tax-deductible, just go to the support tab and preference my ministry.
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