Proud Parents and a Lesson

What a joy it was yesterday to watch Tabitha take her very first steps herself. Because of a national holiday Andrew didn't have to go to language school and as a result we both were present to experience the wonderful event. For several days she has been able to stand for short periods (as long as she wasn't aware of what was happening, at which point she would sit down). What is our reaction? We want her to do it again and again and so throughout the day at various points we encourage her, sitting close by, to repeat the exercise. As time goes by I imagine we will be able to move further and further away until she no longer needs our encouragement and support, she will just take off by herself...


In the post 'A visit to a rehab centre' we mentioned a girl who had been off the streets for five months. She talked about the temptation to return and how one night spent there could undo the months of hard work. We were so encouraged by her maturity...

But we got bad news on Sunday. She had returned to the streets and was drugging up again.

They stand a bit and then they may even take their first steps but the possibility of falling is very high. So what do we do? We're disappointed yes, but we stand close by and hold out our hands of support and encouragement. That's our part of the deal, we pray and hope and wait for them to get up again. As time goes by we'll maybe be able to stand further back and hopefully eventually they'll just take off, integrated into a local church and into their community.

This girl is getting back up. She is so remorseful and tomorrow Alex and Paty are going back to take her back to the rehab centre. What we need to do (and we'd appreciate your prayers) is find some work that she can do when she is ready. It will be simple work, she is suffering the consequences of long term drug use, but hopefully it will be something that gives her enough money to rent a place to live and give her purpose. Alex and Paty feel she accepted Christ in the rehab centre. Pray with us as we stand by this baby Christian and others until we see them 'take off!'