This little girl had my heart and my hand within moments of us meeting. Her name is Angelique, and she loved it when I would pick her up and swing her around.
She asked for my sunglasses multiple times while we walked through her neighborhood. It amused me that she knew exactly what to do after I gave them to her.
This is Angelique's neighborhood. It is known as "Wall Street." The houses are situated along a wall that acted as a barrier from winds and water. There are a few men that live there, but it is mostly women and small children.
This was the sight and experience that sparked my desire to work with orphans. I told our group as we entered our van to leave, that I left a piece of my heart there. I've always been one to get on my hands and knees to play with kids. When I saw these children, it was all I could to do not to put them on my shoulders and walk away. One of the hardest things to do is leave impoverished children behind.
When I returned from Honduras, it was impressed upon me what the vision for my life would be. That vision, is every child in a Godly home. It may be a home like I grew up in, where I knew both my parents, or it may be something like a Rafiki Foundation home. The point is children are not out on the streets, or even taken in to become child soldiers. A movie like Blood Diamond is a vivid picture of how a child soldier comes to be.
The vision is a bold and audacious one. I was taught to dream a dream that if money was not an issue, could it be done? We are far from accomplishing it, and it may not happen in me or my wife's lifetime. We are starting with a young man named Emmanuel, from Rwanda. He is being classically trained and is already showing signs of rambunctious dreams.
Rafiki has the school program I had been looking for since I left Honduras. The connections among my family with multi-millionaires, let alone our own business, provides our funding. I don't know how it will be done. I just know what needs to be done, and I know why. May the glory be to God alone.
Thank you for visiting. 