Kate, Maddie, and Brian
I did not know Kate Phillips until the trip. Now I cannot imagine not knowing her. My sides ache because of her. I literally laughed so hard when she told the Sortero story (Emily will write it) that I started crying. What a generous, loving, joyful heart the Lord has given her. And Maddie I knew as she won the Youth Talent Show singing. God has gifted her with sweetness, a beautiful pure singing voice, and hospitality. She is so inviting.
Our first day there, Kate was mixing it up with the children. She had TicTacs in her purse, so started handing them out. She would have emptied her purse if the kids could have eaten the whole thing as candy. As he was giving out TicTacs, a little boy was overseeing the process. He spoke English a but, so he was able to tell Kate that some were taking more than one as they would hide one behind their back then ask for more. He talked with her and if you wanted to find Kate that day, you looked for Brian. He was with her unless he stepped away to help boys work out conflict, or someone was being treated unfairly.
As the days went by, they were always together with Maddie. Other kids were with them, but Brain was always waiting on Kate to get off the bus, and would stay at the front of the bus (Kate was the co-captain, shotgun) til she got off. He sat on her lap during the VBS lesson, led her around to others, just spent time with her.
One day he asked if she would be his mother.
I think these details of Brian are correct. If not, I will edit them and correct. He is 12. He learned English from being near the results and shining shoes, etc. He . He has been at the orphanage several months. When he came, there were some boys who were intitally not as welcoming to him. New kids. We are all sinners, and kids are no different. As my Dad says, they are simply in training to be adults, and have not learned from the Lord to welcome the stranger. We adults do the same thing a little more subtly by excluding those that are new, whose of whom we are jealous trying to keep power, those who have not yet “earned” social standing. A boy named Joel (pronounced like we say my name here Joelle) stood up for him and told others to leave him alone. Since then, Brian and Joel have been best friends. The day I ate with the kids, they sat together. Brian empathizes with those who are treated unfairly as life has not been like what our 12-yr-olds experience here. Wise head on young shoulders.
The last day was particularly hard of course. The pictures tell it all.
I did not know Kate Phillips until the trip. Now I cannot imagine not knowing her. My sides ache because of her. I literally laughed so hard when she told the Sortero story (Emily will write it) that I started crying. What a generous, loving, joyful heart the Lord has given her. And Maddie I knew as she won the Youth Talent Show singing. God has gifted her with sweetness, a beautiful pure singing voice, and hospitality. She is so inviting.
Our first day there, Kate was mixing it up with the children. She had TicTacs in her purse, so started handing them out. She would have emptied her purse if the kids could have eaten the whole thing as candy. As he was giving out TicTacs, a little boy was overseeing the process. He spoke English a but, so he was able to tell Kate that some were taking more than one as they would hide one behind their back then ask for more. He talked with her and if you wanted to find Kate that day, you looked for Brian. He was with her unless he stepped away to help boys work out conflict, or someone was being treated unfairly.
As the days went by, they were always together with Maddie. Other kids were with them, but Brain was always waiting on Kate to get off the bus, and would stay at the front of the bus (Kate was the co-captain, shotgun) til she got off. He sat on her lap during the VBS lesson, led her around to others, just spent time with her.
One day he asked if she would be his mother.
I think these details of Brian are correct. If not, I will edit them and correct. He is 12. He learned English from being near the results and shining shoes, etc. He . He has been at the orphanage several months. When he came, there were some boys who were intitally not as welcoming to him. New kids. We are all sinners, and kids are no different. As my Dad says, they are simply in training to be adults, and have not learned from the Lord to welcome the stranger. We adults do the same thing a little more subtly by excluding those that are new, whose of whom we are jealous trying to keep power, those who have not yet “earned” social standing. A boy named Joel (pronounced like we say my name here Joelle) stood up for him and told others to leave him alone. Since then, Brian and Joel have been best friends. The day I ate with the kids, they sat together. Brian empathizes with those who are treated unfairly as life has not been like what our 12-yr-olds experience here. Wise head on young shoulders.
The last day was particularly hard of course. The pictures tell it all.
I realized that after publishing this, I needed to explain a few photos. Kate realized that Brian loves music, so she bought a guitar for the orphanage at LaSerina. Kvein Canada has been blessed with an incredible gift for music, so Kevin played the guitar for Brian, and taught him initial guitar chords. Look at his eyes.
Brian is so helpful and resp[onsible. He and Richi or Richard washed dishes, and didn't even whine!
The glass photo is Maddie, Kate, Brian in the captain's chair on the way to the pizza party.
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