Chapter 25 "Hope under the Trees"

May came empty, to a place beneath the giant leaf trees, surrounded by stick house villages, deep within the bush of Africa. She found a seed that had been planted there years earlier. On the outskirts of pot-hole filled roads divided by landmine covered fields, surrounded by disease filled soil that stole the lives of mothers and fathers, a seed of selflessness was planted, deep within the bush of Africa. Forgiveness sprouted, faith formed leaves, and hope blossomed from one selfless seed planted, deep within the bush of Africa.

A place exists where a handful of goodness was sprinkled during a time filled with evil, where few tears are shed and much laughter is contained behind the fence. There is a place where the Father’s glory shines through the people’s sin, where children play in a sanctuary of peace, deep within the bush of Africa. There is a place where creativity is found and where dreams are made, where children jump when they sing and throw their hands in the air when they dance. A place where the parentless have found the Father, where giggles can be heard from a distance and hugs can be felt up close, deep within the bush of Africa.

May knew Red and McCaine enjoyed visiting the orphanage, not quite as much as she, but they could see her heart was inspired by this safe haven for defenseless. She was thankful for sweet sisters who skipped lunches to hike the three mile path and to encourage the beginnings of a dream. Each of the sisters were captivated by this haven for the young and afflicted.

May came empty, but while she played tic-tac toe and swung children in the air, her heart softened. Somewhere, in between the times she twirled the children in the air and shuffled with them in the dance; somewhere, in between the sweet songs flowing from the mouths of the innocent and the attentive eyes upon her as she read stories about the Savior, May was filled again.