but one part of the Body of Christ

I have been learning a lot this summer about the fact that as members of the body of Christ all have specific - and often seemingly small - roles to play in being the hands and feet of Jesus. I am seeing more clearly now that it is ok, that and God doesn't mind, if I don't save the whole world; in fact, He prefers that I focus on just a part, because in doing that I am focusing on individuals, on people whom He created to love and to be loved.

Here at Casa Bernabe, I now see that between all the dishes, diapers, mops and brooms, baby bottles and formula, my role has been to care specifically for one child: everyday for the past 6 weeks I have worked with him, trying to bring his 14-month-old body back up to speed after having spent the first year of his life in a crib without a mother who wanted to hold him.

About two weeks ago, a pediatric therapist came through CB on a short term team and taught me as much as she could about how to stretch and work his tight and underdeveloped body. Since then I've spent almost every moment I can doing these exercises with him and have been so so encouraged by the improvements he has made.

Then on Wednesday of this week we learned from another doctor who came through that, in addition to all he went through in his first year of life, the back of his skull has fused too early which will keep the back of his brain from developing properly and potentially leave him in a vegetative state for the rest of his life. Needless to say, I have been very discouraged and upset over this, but at the same time have seen God's hand in about a million ways since receiving the news.

First of all, I realized yesterday after finding out some more information that the back of his skull had probably actually fused before he even came here, meaning that he really should not have been making any progress in the whole time I've been here (yet he has). Secondly, there is a surgery to correct this problem, which I at first thought would be virtually impossible to bring about since he would most likely have to travel to the United States to get it, requiring a medical Visa and a lot of money, both of which are hard to come by. But we've already had someone offer to sponsor him for all that he needs, and as it turns out, there is actually a chance the surgery could happen here in Guatemala City. Thirdly, his legal representative happened to come and visit the orphanage yesterday to check in on him and his sister and after hearing about the potential surgery, said that he might be able to help expedite the process. And so the list goes on...

Let us never doubt the truth of Scripture when it tells us of God's faithfulness when we call upon Him in prayer.