A day of firsts...

Alright, last time, I had you follow me chronologically

on my time in ET... this time...

well, I am going out of order.

One of my travel mates sent me photos,

and THIS one was my undoing,

so I can't wait any longer to share it.

This is the image that is etched into my memory. 

It is of Ayal John's first ever birthday,

and first ever birthday party...

 The moment the light turns on,

and he realizes the party is FOR HIM.... 

 He turns to me and says,

"For ME????  OHHHHHHH, YAH!!"

Which was followed by a bunch of these... 

and more of these...  "Yaaaah!!"

He was so excited!

This is a young man, who has

spent his whole life at a disadvantage.

He's been an orphan, an outcast...

I've seen first-hand how they

 are treated in their society.

Life got tough, he likely got discouraged.

If he is anything like his younger brother,

he hated himself, felt unworthy of love

(no one had chosen to adopt HIM in all

those years of waiting, watching, hoping...)

and so he never graduated high school...

never went to college.

The path was chosen for him

that he would become a driver.

There would have been

no pomp and circumstance.

Life was routine.

Ordinary... until... one day when it all changed.

He asked to be part of a real family...

albeit thousands of miles away.

He now has another brother (actually two!)

a sister, a Mom, and a Dad.

He is loved, cherished, prayed over, and cared for.

He has hope and a future...

and now...

He has celebrated his FIRST birthday.

He has a day which is HIS alone.

A day to remember and rejoice.

With each card he opened (there were 4)

he would hug me,

kiss the card, and hold it up declaring,

" 'dis from my sista!" or  "Awww. My brothda'!"

(To which the boys filling the room would erupt

in cheers, and traditional Ethiopian noises.)

and then hug me again

('cause I was the deliverer of the joyous cards)

we would read the card together,

and he would stop mid-way to hug me again.

Then we would finish, and he hugged me again.

And so it went as my oldest son felt the joy of

being special for the first time in his life.

Blossoming... that's what our 21 year old is doing.

Blossoming, right before our eyes.

It's amazing what a little bit of sun Jesus can do!

God is soooo GOOD!!

By the way...

His birthday present was decided on the spot that night.

A beautiful Old and New Testament -

Amharic Bible for an incredibly precious young man

who has never had one of his own,

in 21ish years of his life....

The cost?  $9.55 priceless!

  - - - - - -

Happy 21st Birthday, Ayal John!