In October 2011 a team of missionaries came to visit us.  During their trip we did an outreach event in Zacamil.  To me it was the most chaotic event I had ever organized and honestly when we left that night I felt embarassed; as if I had failed that team, and the children of Zacamil.  I do remeber towards the end of the event, with 250 yelling kids running around out of control, I looked to the center of the room and saw this young mother holding her son.  I walked over to them and introduced myself.  Esther, age 14 was holding her 9 month old son, Anderson.  I asked her if I could hold him and she graciously handed him to me.  I remember he was very tiny for being 9 months old.  He was lethargic, clearly undernourished and underweight for his age.  I invited Esther to visit our youth group and she gladly accepted.  The next Saturday Esther showed up with her baby to our youth service.  I remember she was very courageous and not shy at all.  I had offered to have our sitter stay with Anderson and she was reluctant to trust anyone with him.  Three weeks later, Esther came to Esther's House with a friend.  Her friend asked me "What does she need to do to live with you?"  I was actually shocked.  I first explained that we had a strict program for girls who were serious about changing their lives around and that I wasn't sure Esther would be able to manage.  I sent them on their way.  The next Saturday came and again Esther was at my door, this time with her mother.  I will always remember the words of her mother.  She said "Ever since she met you this girl is driving me nuts.  All she does is talk about God.  I'm tired of listening to her.  If you can offer her a home where she can follow God, then please take her."   Esther went on to explain that there was no food for her son.  She said there were so many children living in her house and her son was always fed last and that usually there was no food left for him.  I accepted Esther and Anderson into the house that day. 

At 9 months old Anderson couldn't walk, crawl, or even sit up on his own.  He was seriously undernourished and had parasites.  Today, he is a healthy two year old.  He is walking and running around the house.  He is developing at a normal level and is bi-lingual.  Anderson is definitly the child who brings us all to laughter.  He is a very funy little boy. 

I think back to that day.  I think about the event in Zacamil and how I felt like such a failure for not being able to serve th children of Zacamil with a more organized and educational experience.  I think about how embarassed I was that I had planned such a mess for this visiting team of missionaries.  Today I look at it that day and laugh.  It was just one more lesson for me to learn.  It doesn't matter how bad I am at something.  If I am giving my best, God will do the work.  From that event that I quickly labled a failure we were able to nuture Anderson back to health.  I pray that he will never know hunger or sickness again.