GraceFox

Our internet access disappeared on Tuesday, July 6, so I’ve been unable to post updates from camp. But today’s Sunday and I have wireless for a few minutes so here goes! I wrote this piece on Wednesday, July 7th. More to come! I cannot post a picture of this young man nor reveal his name for privacy reasons.

Today I witnessed a young man transform.

Yesterday he wouldn’t talk. He was obviously happy to be here but he communicated only by pointing at things or motioning with his hands. I began to see his personality emerge during the afternoon worship service. At first he only listened to the songs. Before long, he began clapping in perfect rhythm. That seemed like major progress but the best was yet to come.

Later, after yet another card game with Gene and me, he asked – in Romanian – “How are you?” I was amazed to hear him speak but even more surprised when he repeated the phrase in French, English and Spanish. Then he threw in another sentence: “What is your name?” Again he spoke in four languages. I threw in a couple of English phrases to see what he’d do with them, and he instantly repeated me like a parrot with perfect articulation. Then I asked him if he had brothers and sisters. He couldn’t understand me when I asked him in English, so I repeated my question using my limited French. He immediately knew what I said and answered. From communicating with him only in hand gestures to speaking simple phrases in four languages overnight nearly blew me away.

This young man placed his saving faith in Jesus today. After a prayer time, I made him a bracelet with five colored beads: black, red, white, green and gold. Each color represented a part of God’s plan for salvation. One of our career missionaries translated the meaning of each bead to him. The young fellow responded with a wide grin. Then he pointed at the sky, put his hands together to indicate prayer and put his hand over his heart. Later he touched the elastic bracelet band, motioned as though cutting it with scissors and then shook his head to indicate that he would never do such a thing. Imagine the party in heaven today!

This little guy – I say little because he was small in stature – is 20 years old. Only God knows the pain he’s endured in his lifetime. He’s new to our staff, having been referred to them a couple of weeks ago by someone acquainted with their ministry. They’ve not had opportunity to get to know him yet. He has major problems with his spine and nearly all his upper teeth have fallen out. He’s a gypsy, and that alone brings multiple struggles associated with alcoholism, discrimination and poverty.

On our first day of camp, the kids painted small wooden boxes. He was the first to paint his. When finished, he left it on the table and walked away. The next day I handed it to him and tried to explain that it was his to keep. After two unsuccessful attempts, I asked a Romanian to translate for me. The boy looked confused even when hearing the explanation in his own language. Suddenly his entire face lit up. He pointed at the box and then at himself as if to ask, “For me? This is for me?” The translator and I nodded. He broke into a huge toothless grin, clutched the box and took it to his room for safe keeping. That box cost $1.25 at the Dollar Store, but it might well have been a treasure box made of gold and inlaid with jewels.

Our career staff will get to know this fellow better over time and his personal story will slowly emerge. He is only one of tens of thousands of such young people. And we have the privilege of spending several concentrated days with 18 of them. These are young people of whom the world is not worthy. They face huge challenges but they do so with courage. They inspire me to do the same with problems that pale in comparison to theirs. To stand and sing praise and worship choruses with them for 30 or 40 minutes is to catch a glimpse of heaven. The guitarist from the worship team had to leave camp for a day due to his work schedule, so that meant singing acappella. No problem. Believers and non-believers alike raised the rafters.

These kids have won my heart. I wish I could take them all home with me.

NOTE: For this week, I’ll post everyday rather than just Monday, Wed. and Friday. Join me!