It was 6:30 pm at the Children’s Home…time to start service! Each night of service, different children are leading the praise and worship; and since the older boys are in college or have a job and cannot come to play music all the time, I heard the “best praise and worship” music I have heard; in a long time! It was not “rock and roll” but good plain, “all Glory to God,” praise and worship. Our older children are playing well, for the Lord!
Raphael is now playing bass guitar and loving it! There are no “shopping centers,” no “movie theaters” to go to, and none of the younger teens have a phone (only a few in the highest grades). So, they spend their time studying and in music! Raphael is kind and respectful and loves “hanging out in the cafeteria” to practice. He came to us with his sisters, Bianca and Jessica (some call her Ada). They were all from Cap Haitian. Their parents’ “story” is very complicated; all we knew was that these children needed a home.
Each of the three is different. Ada is sweet but doesn’t play an instrument. Bianca has the voice of an angel! We have heard her sing just one time since she has been with us! She is so, so shy! Raphael doesn’t sing, but he does play that bass! In that, he is a typical teen! However, he is really anointed to play, and he loves the Lord. His only problem is that he still doesn’t know where the “low volume” is!
Raphael is talented with art. He always wanted to be an “artist.” But I told him, “Raphael, there are gangs in the streets of Haiti. People get killed every day. The gangs stole our medical van last year and beat up two of our midwives! The streets of Haiti are dangerous now….so, who are you going to sell art to?” There are hardly any American missionaries here now, and Haiti is a Level 4, which means, “Do Not Travel to Haiti!” So, if you want to be an artist and sell your paintings, you will be a “starving artist!” He thought about it and said, “I’ve always wanted to be a doctor!”
Good choice, Raphael. You may be saving the life of one of those “gang members” someday!
We love Raphael. He is 14 and such a sweetie!
Sherry