This DEVO is an oldie but a goodie that originally went out August 6, 2012.
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Now, I must warn you, read this DEVO to the end because even though it starts off rough, it has a happy ending.
Yesterday I went to church with Rayray to hear a special speaker, a 17-year-old Liberian re-named Taylor because his African name is too lyrical for us Americans to pronounce. He loves soccer, is blacker than night, and has the whitest, most beautiful smile I have ever seen.
He got up and spoke, and here is his story:
"My mother died the day I was born, and my father abandoned me. I lived the first four years of my life in the hospital. When I was four, a civil war broke out in Liberia and the rebels came. All six of my siblings died. One day they raided the hospital and rather than kill me, they tied me naked to a tree and left me to die. I survived for three days eating the flies that would land near my mouth.
On the third day I was rescued by a kind passerby who took me to Mafita.
Mafita is a Liberian woman who took on the enormous, unthinkable responsibility of taking care of 80 orphans whose parents had died or fled during the civil war, including me.
For years we spent the day traveling and setting up camp at night--not having a place to call our own. Finally, when the war ended, we were given several acres of land and built an orphanage there. People from all over the world have contributed to our cause, and all of us orphans who are now older will get to go to college. Blessed be the name of the Lord!!!"
Isn't that awesome? What a life and what a story. Right after I said to Rachel, "Let's go give that child a proper Cuban welcome!" So we went and hugged him, and here's what we learned. The secret to growing up happy even though you have lost it all--including your family--and have absolutely nothing of worth, is prayer. Mafita is a woman who was always on her knees. Almost as soon she saw Taylor she held him, loved him, taught him about Jesus, prayed over him, and told him he would be a pastor one day. She says she saw a gift in him. She was right because we all saw it too! Glory!
On a side note--Taylor has been staying with the pastor of the church for a week while he visits and trying all the new foods in our country. One day he was asked if he liked pasta, and he said yes. So they whipped up some pasta and they told him, here eat the pasta--you will like it! He hesitated because in his country "pasta" is how you pronounce "pastor," and he did not want to eat a servant of the Lord! Hahahahaha!
Anyway, Taylor grew up and many thought he would go into civil engineering, but he realized he has a calling to be a pastor, so here he is!
He prayed at the end of the service, and we were all stunned. It was as if heaven descended into the room. I couldn't help but think of all the people he will inspire.
That 17-year-old orphan could teach us a thing or two about gratitude and good attitude.
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12 (Go Taylor~)
PRAYER:
Dear Lord,
Thank You for Taylor and his amazing testimony. And thank You for all the good we have in our life. Help us to be grateful. In Jesus' name, Amen!
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