One of the privileges of leading multiple CRED trips is that I get to return to projects year after year and see the children we are serving grow up.
Today was one of those delightful days - first day at the Women At Risk holiday project, and many familiar faces amongst the children turning up.
It was so good to see the likes of Mandela and Gashaw and Frei again - still thriving under the care of W.A.R, and the support that their mum's are getting as they find their feet with new forms of employment.
Gashaw is one of the older lads, with a harrowing back-story, and he touched many hearts last year with his big smile, and positive attitude despite everything. Today I had a lovely 15 minutes with him and my laptop, showing him the photos from last year's trip - he was laughing so much at some of the clips of him dancing with Erin, Evie, Chandos and the like, and he remembered everyone's names.
At the end of the day, 7yr old Mandela was greeted by his mum who came to get him and his brother to take them home. I visited their home last year, and so it was lovely to be able to greet the mum again, and find out how she is getting on. The smile on her face said a lot, despite the language barrier, and I think it was very special to her that she had that extra link to the team this year round.
It is such a privilege to lead these trips, and its moments like this that make them extra special. Its wonderful to be able to return to meet the staff year after year, and develop strong friendships with them, but to be able to watch the children growing and developing under the nurturing care of the projects is the icing on the cake. That and the chance to introduce more young people from the UK to the amazing projects that we are partnered with.
thank you Lord for this, and for so much more.
love and blessings
No comments:
Post a Comment