Michael

On Thursday we went for community outreach in the slums. I was in a group with Moses and Kathryn and we went round to visit more new families. As we were chatting, we spotted a little boy who was watching us. He was just wearing a pair of shorts that were much too big for him and as soon as Moses asked his name he ran away. The other children with us told us his name was Michael so we called after him and went to visit his home. 
I took my shoes off and stepped through the curtain. Their home was made up of just one room that was the same size as our bathroom back at the house. On one side was a mattress, occupied by Michael's mother who is suffering with malaria. Next to her lay a tiny baby who has suspected measles, her name was Eva. She briefly opened her big eyes to look at me before drifting back to sleep, her small chest slowly rising and falling. On the opposite side of the room was a small charcoal stove and some pots and pans. Above me hung their wardrobe of clothes. This was it. I sat down on the floor, deeply humbled by what surrounded me. 
But before I knew it, Michael mistook me for a climbing frame and was sat on one of my shoulders before collapsing into my lap and a fit of giggles. I can honestly say that I have never met a 3-year-old with more energy. I immediately warmed to this little boy.
We sat a prayed for the healing of Michael's mother and baby Eva and then said goodbye to the family. Michael followed us round for the rest of our time there that afternoon and we invited him to children's club the next day.
On Friday we turned up to children's club and we were glad to see Michael come along for his first time. During our story of Elijah and Baal I needed to find some children to help me act out the fire. Michael, in his hyperactivity, was my first volunteer and I crowned him with a fire headband!

Our usual routine for kids club is to give out the biscuits at the end before sending the children home, or it turns into a bit of a riot. I waited til last to give Michael his biscuits so that I could take him to one side and give him a tshirt.

Moses then pointed out the box of shoes at the back of the church so I searched through that to try and find some that would fit his little feet. I found a black plimsole, but when I tried to put it on his foot he wiggled away from me and ran off. I kept searching and found a pair of pink converse and with a bit of persuasion we got them on his feet. He loved them!

I had a protein chocolate bar in my bag and decided to give that to Michael too. However when I handed it to him he batted it away. Maybe he didn't understand what it was. Moses then asked me to take Michael back home as I'd been to his house the day before. I once again offered him the protein bar and he took it... before throwing it into the ditch. As I watched it sink into the mud I was reminded of something.

God pours his blessings down upon me and has a plan set out for me yet I react in different ways. Sometimes, like with the tshirt, I will happily accept what God is giving or telling me. I am comfortable with it, it's nothing out of the ordinary and I willingly receive. However sometimes I'm a bit more reluctant. When I was trying to find shoes to fit Michael, he wasn't so keen. He ran away and scrunched up his feet before we talked him in to trying them on, and I'm like that too. Okay God, is this really what you want for me? I'm not sure I can do that. Uganda? For 9 months? I couldn't do that. I make excuses, I run away from God's will until I eventually realise that this is what is best for me. And as always, God was right from the start, I love what he has done in my life. Why didn't I listen to him from the start?

Unfortunately, I also react in the 'protein bar' manner. God says to me, this is my will for your life, and I say, no. No way. I bat the ideas away, throw them into the mud, I can't do that. I won't do that. And I can imagine God feeling the same as I did with Michael, "but I'm doing this to help you!". All I need to do is unwrap and delve into the plans and visions God has for me and I will discover the treasure inside! 

I'm sorry if this is cheesy or cliche, but these children teach me something (or more likely, God teaches me through these children) everyday and I'd love to share the blessings of these children with you. 

Please continue to pray for Michael, his mother, and baby Eva. Pray for God's provision in their lives and for the rest of the children and families in the slum. 

We are off to the village this week to work in a school for disabled children. Please pray for this too.

Thank you!

God Bless x