It was an amazing six and a half months in the States. We truly enjoyed our visits with all of you. Your faces and prayers truly brightend our stay. The long 25 hour trip home was very uneventful. The bags all got checked in and the children and parents were at their best behavior! We were so excited to be on the plane back to see the boys, our new family in Zambia, our friends and of course our dogs.
Some of our friends met us at the airport and others made their way to our house to drop us a meal. We are so blessed and greatful to God for them. It has been a strangely easy week as far as adjusting to life and the time difference is concerned. It really feels as if we never left. We know that for this season, this is where we belong.
Our first order of affairs once we landed was to go and see our boys at "the farm". We call the Kakabalika house here "the farm." It was so great to see them and spend time with them. They have grown so much! We then headed over to the mall. Warren wanted us to stay up all day so that we could sleep at night. As gruelsome as it was, we made it. Praise God!
We also went out one night to visit our other boys on the street. A tradition we made as a family a while ago. Oh, how our hearts break everytime we see them out there. It's always bad to see these precious lives on the streets of Lusaka. It is especially hard to see the ones who were once at the farm go back to the same old thing. Proverb 26:11 speaks the truth when it says, "As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly." But we believe God is able to turn it all around. Please keep praying with us for the stronghold of self and addiction to break in their lives.
It was so very sad to hear one of these boys talk to us about getting a sponsor for a music school. This boy was told by some famous singer that he could sing. All he needs is a sponsor to foot the cost. So, of course, Warren said to him, "Let me hear you sing." The boy then proceeded to rap/talk, all the while we're looking at each other thinking he's translating the song he's about to sing. No, he then said, "So, Uncle, I'm done!" Warren as gently as he could told him, "that was not really singing... It was more like rapping, really talking" This poor boy was so sure he could sing because someone told him so. Now, I do think it's good to help people out with their dreams. Isn't that what the Bible says, "Without a vision, the people perish?" But, I got so mad because he was taken advantage of in my view because he's holding on to this lie. The Bible says in Proverbs 26:28b, "...a flattering mouth works ruin." I feel it would be better to tell the truth in love as opposed to letting others believe and try to run after some lie that's going to get them disappointed and maybe even mad at God in the end. I may be totally off, but this is just my personal opinion.
As hard as it may be to balance between flattery and telling the truth in love. I do pray that God will give us the wisdom to do the right thing when the situation arises.
