House 4: Ready... Or not

Ever since arriving, we have been taking up residence in Sozo House 1 while awaiting House 4 renovations to be finished. House 4 will be the interns’ home for the summer. We thought that we would move down the hill on Thursday. We loaded up our bags and headed down the dirt road only to find that the house was not ready. Left a few things, carried the rest back up. Came to try again on Friday. The electrician and plumBer (they pronounce the “B” so it sounds like plum-ber) were still working. We took one change of clothes back up to House 1. Saturday, took a few visits down. At 9:00 pm we decided to make the move. Only to arrive at House 4 with only one working bathroom, and our side of the house still not finished. 

Some of the Sozo kids came with us to mop… Which ended up being a hose down and scrub of the floors. Or as Angela said, “The Nile is rushing through.” 

All of that being said, we are one step closer to unpacking our bags (now that we have been here almost a week…) and should finally be settled in for the summer.

With all of our extra time at House 1, I sure have enjoyed loving on our sweet Sozo babies. They keep asking, “Auntie Lauren, for how long are you staying?” Every time that I remind them it is the end of the summer, their face lights up with a big smile. I love the million times a day they say, “Auntie Lauren… Read me a book.” “Will you help me shade (color)?” “Auntie, pray with me.” Or, “Come, we go.” as they grab me by the hand and drag me off.

Tonight at devotion we studied Psalm 139:14, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” As I thought about each and every child in that room, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with thinking about how God designed each and every one of these children to be unique and special. He gave each of them gifts and talents to be used for His glory. I praise God that He brought Sozo into their lives, despite rough backgrounds and childhoods, so that they can be taught of what He has done for them. Not one single thing that has happened in their lives is an accident. It is all a part of their story so they can grow up to bring glory to His great name.