What happens when you tell God He may not do something — and He does it anyway? In this episode missionary Lydia Venter share her experience of such a scenario
Today I want to tell the story of how we got our youngest son, Teday, or True Davis, as he was called by one of the staff members of Arise And Shine Children’s Home in a town called Molo.
In previous episodes I have mentioned how difficult the year 2008 was for us as a country with the post-election violence, and also for us as a family with the attack on our lives in March, my increasing emotional instability, as well as the financial challenges we faced after losing a huge donor from the UK. Another child was therefore literally the last thing on our minds … But, obviously not the last thing on God’s mind.
Somewhere during the course of the year, we were introduced to a woman from England, Dawn, who had started a children’s home in Molo. She invited us over to come and look at her project. So one late afternoon in September we drove out the 30-something kilometres to her place. She had 39 children by then.
By the time she wanted to take us through the place, it was already getting dark. I remember us entering the dimly-lit sitting room with the television’s flickering light casting moving shadows on the walls. About 2m from the television was a young man with a baby boy sitting on his lap. As we passed them my eyes locked with this child’s eyes … Although it was just for a second or two, I could strongly feel the instant connection! However, considering our meagre financial position at that stage and my depression that was forcing me deeper and deeper into pits of agony, I looked up to the Lord in the spirit and (harshly) said: “Don’t even think about it!!!”
He was obviously thinking about it, as Holy Spirit tried His best to bring up the subject, but each time I had to remind Him that the topic was off-limits. Although I briefly shared with Wilco, the organising of the year-end functions kept him busy enough to forget all about it. But not me … I had to constantly block out those beautiful big eyes.
Psalm 33:11 so clearly states that the plans of the Lord stand firm forever and the purposes of His heart through all generations.
In the beginning of December Dawn phoned, telling me that “all” the children had been given out for the holidays, “except” Teday. Really!!! REALLY!!!! The cutest kid on the block not being selected by a family to spend the December holidays with them?! Ridiculous? … maybe, but we instantly knew that Father was pressing us into His purpose and that, once that small 9-month-old boy entered our home, he would never be allowed to leave us again.
Our daughter, Joy, drove with me to Arise and Shine to go and pick up our new son, while Wilco rushed to Nakuru on his motorbike to go and buy baby milk, diapers, and a few other necessities. After collecting Teday from the children’s home, Joy held him tightly all the way to Njoro where we stayed at that time. And it’s funny … up to this day they share a special bond.
We were told that Teday was found under a bush on the 16th of March 2008 and taken to the Bondeni Police Station. He still had the umbilical cord attached to his little body, covered by grass and ants. Taking into consideration that Molo was one of the most severely affected areas during the post-election clashes, we can only imagine what had happened …
Teday had no attachments to anyone whatsoever, and it bothered us that he would just go to anyone. Dawn told us that he was mostly alone in his cot, as the rest of the bigger kids went to school. It was also obvious that he never got enough exercise, as his legs were visibly weak (he only walked at the age of one year, six months).
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Although we showered him with love and affection, he could not care less who he was with, until one day, shortly before Christmas. The missionary women had a cookie exchange fellowship and, while enjoying each other’s company, my friend, Lydia Klingforth, wanted to hold Teday. At some point I was across the room, when suddenly my eyes locked again with Teday’s. For a second or so he just stared at me, and then suddenly, with his chubby arms outstretched towards me. he loudly protested at being with a strange woman. He clung to me as we both sobbed uncontrollably … He finally knew he belonged.
Jeremiah 1:5 … “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you … Ephesians 1:4 … ‘Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him … In love.
Today, Teday is 13 years old. He’s almost as tall as his dad and has the sweetest spirit. We can’t imagine our lives without him. He loves God, and bikes and cars, is sensitive, talented in music and builds the most amazing things with Lego. “Thank You, Jesus, for the amazing ways in getting us to fulfil Your plans, even when being stubborn and blind. We love and honour You …”
In the next episode I’ll share about the street boys and how the Hope Centre was birthed
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Bless you! Your compassion, love and courage are just awe inspiring!