Bonafice

Three weeks ago today, we were on our way home from Uganda and were stuck in the Dallas airport.  We were exhausted!  We wondered if we would ever make it home.  Yet, now we are home, back into our routine, and I would say we are finally rested even! But, by no means have we put this experience behind us.

We did not come home with a pretty pre-packaged experience that we can tie a bow on.  It was hard.  It is hard still. It rocked our world so to speak.  There are areas of life that look different now and areas that we need God's direction and perspective.  We came to know and love people that live halfway across the world.  We met our Ugandan brothers and sisters in Christ and we know they have needs and hurts, just like us.

We met this little guy.

This is Bonafice.

We started sponsoring him about a month before the trip.  He is new to Bless the Children Ministries.  Both of his parents died and he has two older siblings.  He is precious.  They told us he was very shy when he first came to BTCM, but he was as happy as a clam while we were there.  That may have been because of what he is holding in the picture.  We brought little Bonafice a soccer ball of Jack's and that little boy just beamed.  That soccer ball was never out of his sight.  Bonafice is all boy!  We gave him a bath and put clean clothes on him, but that kid was a dirty mess again in no time.  He may get dirty, but by God's mercy, he is not alone.  He is a part of a special community now where he will be fed, loved, clothed, and educated.  It's not a utopia, but he is one less orphan that is falling through the cracks.

Look at these sweet children!


~Thank you God for loving them and providing for them.  God give us your grace.  Help us to love like you do.



On a side note, we were so blessed to be a part of such an amazing team on this trip.  One of the couples on our team were missionaries in South Africa for 20 years and they have been able to help us walk through the struggles of this experience.  Check out their blog for another good perspective from our trip. http://parrisalongside.blogspot.com/2012/07/summing-up-its-all-good.html

Also, considering changing a life forever and sponsor a child you could visit one day too!

Check out Bless the Children's website or find them on Facebook.
http://www.blessthechildrenministries.org/Bless_The_Children_Ministries/Welcome.html