It’s been a hard week around here. We are relying on God for strength, comfort and energy as we mourn Brian’s loss and celebrate the fact that he is now with Christ in his perfect new body. 

God showed up in a big way today. It’s easy to get discouraged, to not know what your next move should be. On the day Brian passed we were supposed to go visit a little boy named Caleb that we met at the district hospital. So today we had a free afternoon before another busy week and we decided to set off to find them. Caleb’s mother had her cell phone turned off, but we started on the twenty minute drive to their house assuming that she was at church and would turn her cell phone back on by the time we got close. We got there and her phone was still off. Since it was a Sunday afternoon there was no one along the main road that we could even attempt to ask for directions. So we got to the last place where you can turn off the main road and decided to make a right and drive a little bit until we found someone we could ask. At this point we had basically given up hope of finding them, but we had to at least ask someone before turning around. 

Caleb

We came across a church and called over one of the ladies that was sitting outside. We gave her the only information we had. We asked if she knew a little boy named Caleb who is three years old and is unable to sit, walk or talk, who just came back from a month stay at the hospital. We also knew that he had a sister who is eight years old who is unable to speak and understands very few words and commands. To our amazement the lady said that she knew them and grabbed a ten year old boy out of church who is their neighbor and told him to take us to their house. We arrived and sat down while the boy who directed us when to call the mother. While we were waiting we saw a girl standing outside and called her over to greet us. She didn’t speak, but shook our hands. Then we started getting even more hopeful that we were at the right place. 

Caleb's sister Mercy

Then the neighbor boy came around the corner holding Caleb. We were amazed that we actually found them. We sat with Caleb while his older brother, Willy went to find the mother. Caleb looked like he had lost the little weight that he had gained during his stay at the hospital. His mouth sores are healed, but he is still so skinny. The doctors advised his mother to give him milk with every meal, but with the little money that they have and three other children to provide for it is too expensive. She loves her son, but their financial situation makes it impossible for him to get the care he needs. All of the other kids are fairly healthy, clean and look well cared for except for Caleb. He was dirty, smelly and drooling but all I could think about when I held him in my arms was that this is how God holds us. He doesn't wait for us to be clean and perfect. He loves us exactly as we are in the moment when we come to him and everything else fades into the background because that love takes over.

Despite being malnourished, his little body is still strong. He can almost hold up his head completely on his own and with consistent physical therapy could be sitting on his own and maybe even stand one day. 

God made it clear to us today that he wanted us to find Caleb for a reason. We talked his mother about what we do at Precious Kids Center and told her that if she and her husband agree, we would love to have him come to the home to get the care that he needs. We will be visiting them again at the beginning of next month and seeing what they have to say and possibly moving Caleb into the house. Pray for this family as they deal with providing for not one, but two children with disabilities. Pray for Caleb’s continued protection and health.