As I look back on the past 14 years that I’ve been in Happy Valley and the 10 or so trips that I’ve taken to visit the boys (and girls) at the Rose of Sharon Orphanage, I have a few special memories.
Henry was wheelchair bound by the time I started going. He tried to act tough, but he was a tender-heart who loved to watch all the action. One day I got to help give him a shower. That meant that I held him up while we scrubbed him in the shower! I got soaked in the process, but seeing the trust in Henry’s face was worth the wetness…Henry has gone on to be with Jesus now, and his wheelchair days are done!
Bernardo is about the same age as Levi, and considers Levi his “brother from another mother.” His English is pretty good, and he’s about the most conversant boy young man around. We’ve spent hours talking about everything under the sun, and his picture is on the wall in our house.
Juan Ulysses is the most quiet, hard-to-make-smile kid I’ve met. He’s little for his age, and hardly ever says a word. But one dusty afternoon he spent hours beating the slop out of me in a game of marbles that took us all over the yard…
That day with Juan Ulysses is the day I think I figured out that I could love another child like he was my own. That’s a landmark day in my life. There are 4 relatively new members of Team Sublett who are reaping the benefit of that marble game.
I can hardly wait to get back to play some more marbles!
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