Good Old Aussie Love!

This week we were fortunate to have two Aussie friends, Felicity and Merryn, visit our boy in his orphanage.  Both friends, whom I met last summer on my own trip to Maria's, are currently on the first Australian Mission Trip to Maria's Big House of Hope and as part of their time at Maria's they were privileged to tour the state run orphanage where Jack resides.  They had specifically asked their guide from Maria's, Mikey, if it was possible to visit with Jack so we were really hoping that the orphanage would allow it.  After their visit I got these two sweet updates via email...

From Merryn:
Seeing Jack was one of my highest hopes for this trip and my heart is warmed that I had an opportunity not just to see him through an open door, but to wrap my arms arounds him, plant kisses on his cheek, draw with him and tell him his mummy is coming soon. He was sitting at the drawing table so I picked up his crayon and drew a love heart on his page. I don't know if he identifies shapes or if he would understand what a love heart would mean, but it is my prayer that it communicated something of the love that envelopes his life.

He looked GOOD, Deb. He was a little stunned as a group of foreigners filled his preschool room, but he looked healthy. It did not take long for him to respond to the hugs Fe and I gave him as he leaned into the cuddle. And as we left he waved goodbye. We walked past his room later and he waved again, this time with a slight smile and more animation.

Remembering the reality that what we saw may not be indicative of "everyday" I took the opportunity to look at the photos around the room. There was a photo of Jack hugging another child and very clearly having a fun time. He has a smile on his face and was well dressed. If the photo showed anything of a typical day then in that moment he was having a good one.

From Felicity:
Well, today was a bitter sweet day.  We visited the place today and amongst the heartache, helplessness and hopelessness, we saw hope - we saw Jack!

Not only did we see him, I knelt down next to him, put my arms around him and gave him a beautiful hug. He was sitting at a table drawing with a red crayon. As soon as I got close to him, and put my head near his, he rested his sweet precious head against mine. He is beautiful Deb. You could tell he just loved the touch and the attention and it has truly been the highlight of my trip so far. Knowing he is there is tough, but knowing he is there and going home to you so very soon, is a beautiful, precious thing to hold onto. 

He didn't smile when we saw him the first time, and he had a pretty blank face, but I could tell he loved the touch and the interaction. We went into other rooms and then walked back past his room... all the other kids were waving goodbye but he had his back to us because his nanny had just given him a drink, but then he turned around and waved and gave Merryn and I a lovely smile before we left. It was precious Deb! We also saw a photo of him on the wall of him hugging another little boy and he had a beautiful smile on his face. He is doing well Deb. He looks provided for and healthy.

I think you can understand why these messages are such a blessing, but also so hard to read.  Several people have mentioned that it seems I am feeling down these days, but in truth it is not lowness of spirit but anxiousness of heart.  As much as my heart leaps with joy that I have so many friends who are able to visit with Jack and give him hugs and kisses and words of encouragement while we are still trapped here in a paperwork holding pattern, it also makes my heart absolutely ache for the day when I can wrap my own arms around him and kiss his cheeks - not once, not for a moment, not for a short little visit, but as much as I want any day that I want until he gets big enough to finally say, "Mom, stop!  You're embarrassing me!"  And then, of course, I will simply do it again.  =)

So, please don't worry about me.  But please do keep praying for Jack and our process.  Our day will come, when the Lord sees fit, but with as long as each day seems to me I can only imagine how long it must seem to Jack.

And just as a parting thought - one of the most uplifting thoughts conveyed to me in the above mentioned emails was this:

There are beautiful black and white pictures on the walls in the halls [of Maria's Big House of Hope] now, and Jack features in a few of them. Even though he is not here, he is here, and he is being prayed for as the staff and us walk past and see him and the other beautiful kids.

Jack will always be one of Maria's Kids.  And it more than lifts my spirit to know that he has people praying for him on both sides of the world.  Thank you for being just one of those people lifting prayers.

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now..."  Philippians 1:3-5

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  Hebrews 10:23-25

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith."  Hebrews 12:1-2a