Paul’s Story

 

Paul is from a village close to the Children’s Home. I first met Paul in 2015 while the team was delivering shoeboxes to his village. I remember it being one of the most chaotic deliveries I have ever been a part of, and we were almost out of shoeboxes so I was handing out Bibles. I saw Paul standing in the middle of the chaos with nothing in his hands so I walked over and placed the Bible in his hands. Four years later Paul would be one of the new kids who joined us for summer camp. One of our staff members were talking with him about how he likes Bread of Life and he responded with “he loves it because he likes to ride bikes and gets to go to school.” He said, “When I get older, I want to go to Bucharest like Vasile”. Vasile is his older brother who recently moved to our YTP boys apartment.

May-Newsletter1.6 Paul has such a sweet smile. He is tough on the outside, but his spirit is soft. He is good at practicing kindness towards others. I asked the tutor who is responsible for Paul’s group to describe Paul and this is what she shared with me, “Paul is 8 years old. He has burning black eyes and brown hair. He is such a good kid. Paul likes to draw, paint, and write! He likes to play with his friends, ride a bike, and learn new things! He wants to be a policeman when he grows up. He likes to eat sweets and he is good at sharing with his friends.” His favorite thing to do is learn about God and go to Bible lessons.

It is quite amazing to see the growth in these kids. I talk about that a lot, but I see God in the growth. I see God in the perfect timing, and I have so much comfort in knowing that God sees these kids. When Paul came to camp with us last summer it was his first time being with BOL. I remember him being more closed off than the other kids, like he was covered with a hard shell on the outside. This is totally different than the Paul I see today when I greet him. He has adjusted to life in our home and he radiates positivity and hope.

El Roi, the God who sees you. I am thankful for a God who sees these kids and cares about the smallest details in their life.

“She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,

‘ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.”
Genesis 16:13 (NIV)

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