It's been a relatively normal week here in Accra. Teaching PE classes and coaching soccer while learning more and more about how sinful I am and how much I need the love and grace of Christ! This morning has been a great time of worship and growing in my relationship with Him.
I woke up this morning, a few minutes later than I wanted to, and got ready to go to a meeting for Little League baseball here in Accra. I will, Lord willing, be helping out with the league and possibly coaching and umpiring. While walking to the school where we were meeting a little boy all of a sudden ran up and jumped and gave me a big hug! It surprised me because most kids just come up and shake my hand and say hi, but this boy was different. After trying to talk to him I realized that it was the boy who had sat in my lap for story time during our last kid's club (September 20). After he ran up to me and hugged me, he grabbed my hand and walked with me all the way to the school. At kid's club the other kids had told me that he could not speak well and did not understand much. I had just thought he didn't know much English. After talking to him today I realize how little he can speak. I asked him a few questions in English and he just looked up and smiled at me. Then I asked him etesan, which is how are you in Twi. Even when I spoke Twi he looked up at me, smiled, and just made a noise in no way sounding like words. I also asked him how old he was. I said several numbers and finally he repeated back to me very quietly "four." This was the only word he was able to say to me the whole time we were walking. While we were walking I was so aware of how God uses even those who can't speak to teach us! This boy couldn't speak, but he was teaching me how to be joyous and happy even though he had nothing. His family doesn't have money, he is walking around wearing a Christmas t-shirt, and he can't speak! But yet he still has a huge smile on his face as he is walking beside me holding my hand. As we were walking I started praying for him, that he would one day be able to speak and become a great evangelist for Christ! Won't you join with me and pray for this 4 year old boy! I will try to find out his name this upcoming Tuesday from the other kids and kid's club.
When I got home from the baseball meeting I was still thinking about the young boy. So I looked up some verses talking about the mute in the Bible and thought about how God used Moses even though he said to the LORD, "I am slow of speech and tongue." (Exodus 4:10) Moses was referred to as God's servant more than any other person in the Bible and was also included as a great man of faith! Jesus also dealt with speech problems. He cast out a demon in a boy who's father said to Jesus, "But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." Jesus replied, "If you can?!" (exclamation point added by me). "Everything is possible for him who believes." Lord, help me to believe that you can heal this boy of his inability to speak and that your ways are higher than my ways. Nothing can stop Jesus from shining through us, not even being mute!!
Join with me in praying for this 4 year old boy, for the students at AIS to be open to the Gospel, for the kids at Pram Pram (tomorrow morning for Sunday school), and for the students at kid's club to be open to the Gospel on Tuesday. Lord, use me!!
