Today was a nervous day.  Are we going to an orphanage?  What can I say to an eight year old girl I’ve never met and may not speak any English?  I told my boys that I want them to meet her too.  Does that make it more or less awkward?  

There was a sign up if you sponsor someone from Children of the Nations.  It wasn’t obvious what to do, but Wisdom was planning it; one of the Live Love staff.  I found him in his office and asked how I sign up.  “I’m making a sign up sheet.  Let me start it now”.  I was first on the list.  There was a time, date, location on the college campus.  I showed up there with the kids, but no one else is there.  I waited 15, 30 min.  Nothing.  I asked another leader.  She doesn’t know, but she can call Wisdom.  They’re on their way, but they’ll be a little late.  1 hour.  1.5 hours.  This isn’t helping my anxiety.  Then suddenly, “your sponsored child is here!” We were playing pool.  I guess I’m done.  

Wahida is very shy.  We’ve been sponsoring her almost a year, but I don’t know how to communicate with her.  Her information sheet says she likes to sing in church and she likes to pray.  The Live Love staff help to translate.  “What are you interested in?”  She’s very nervous too and it’s too open ended.  I introduced my kids.  I showed her pictures of my wife and our youngest son who is closer to her age.  She is still struggling for words.  Do you want to take a picture? I handed her my phone with the camera on.  She is looking at herself mesmerized.  I think even mirrors are uncommon in Malawi.  

What song do you like to sing in church?  I don’t recognize it.  Do you want to sing it for me? She does.  Do you want to record yourself singing? She does.  What does the song mean, I ask the translator.  I was lost, but Jesus found me.  Now I’ll follow Jesus.  How do I reply to that from an 8 year old?  It’s heartbreaking.  Another person was taking pictures of the kids with their sponsor.  They printed them and put it in a frame that we made.  We have Wahida her picture.  What else? They all got soda and chips and then it was time to go.  I asked her, what else?  “I want to pray for you and your family”.  This eight year old orphan can pray for strangers better than I can even when she’s nervous and afraid.  I didn’t even need the translation.  I could understand clearly.