Tuesday, March 9, 2010

My 4 boys...

So since I've been back in the Philippines this time around, I've been in charge of the boys and have been doing nightly devotions with the 4 of them. These boys are so precious to me, so I thought I'd share a little about them:


Patrick

This is Patrick, and this boy, as I tell him many times daily, makes my heart so happy! He is always willing to be my kasama, which means escort, the guy who goes with you to make sure you don't get lost, stolen or hurt. He is so sensitive to those around him and their needs. Every night I put the boys to bed, I always tell them goodnight, I love you and then I give them a hug and kiss the top of their head. Patrick was the first to say, "I love you too." He absolutely blesses my heart every day. This morning just as my alarm was going off, I looked up and he was peering in my door.. seeing that I was awake I saw him mumble 'nuts!'.. my alarm had obviously ruined his plan to surprise me and wake me up! He has recently taken on the position of my body guard and is quick to protect me from the other boys joking around or horse playing! He is absolutely precious!





Franz

This is Franz, he is priceless! I started teaching Franz and Patrick in school shortly after Christmas. Because of spending hours a day teaching them... and dealing with their occasional 'fits', these two and I have bonded alot. Franz has such kind heart down deep. He loves to joke, but as soon as he realizes when he's taking a joke too far, he's quick to 'serious up' and show his heart of gold. One example of this is during bedtime devotions with the boys, as I mentioned before after we talk and they say their prayers, I tell them "Goodnight, I love you _______." ( I tell each one of them individually Goodnight and that I love them.) Well, Franz sometimes decides to act all tough and hard and will say, "No you don't!" very seriously or "I don't love you." That one always kinda gets me, but my response is always, "That's ok, I will still love you." And that's the point in which he is able to see that I didn't laugh it off and that I'm still just loving on him... and that's when, every time, he sprints or jumps towards me and wraps his arms around me, giving me the hardest hug he can manage... and every time it follows one of his 'jokes', that hug just remains there for a while. That's his heart of gold coming out, the heart that just melts mine!




Side note on Franz - Franz is the only orphan of the boys, the other 3 have families, but choose to live here and visit their families periodically. Franz may possibly be going to US this summer for 3 weeks, in which time he will spend with a foster (and possible adoptive) family. I already know that I will miss his goofy personality so much!!


EmEm

This is Em. Em is one smart cookie! He is the oldest of the 4, and he and Gil go to public school, so I don't see them as much during the day. However, on his holidays, Em is usually helping me out, helping teach Patrick and Franz. One of the things I admire most about Em is his respect; he's very respectful and is always willing to help out (as you know since I already told you the boy spends his breaks from school, to help do school for others). He is also becoming quite the artist these days.








Gil

This is Gil (pronounced Hill). Gil is a handful, not like constantly going here or there or constantly getting into trouble. But in the fact that Gil has been very guarded with me, doesn't want to get close. However, I'm slowly trying to figure him out and I'm slowly starting to understand. However, as soon as I think I'm in, something happens and we have a severly busy week or I'm not around him for a day or two and just like that, I'm back out. Gil is about complete opposite of Patrick. Whenever I got home from most recently from spending a few days in Subic, Patrick was all over me and hung around and hugged me the whole evening, Gil didn't hug me once. I'm realizing the key is attention and more focus on him. A few weeks ago, I took Em and Gil to McD's (the "MacDow" as they call it here) just to go get some ice cream after dinner in celebration of Em's birthday (actually it was the day before). I took just the 2, because those are the ones that I hardly get time with. Well, just showing him that I still cared and was still trying shifted something in Gil and walking down the street, he grabs my hand and holds my hand...then at evening devotions he gives me a hug! (Though I always tell him goodnight and that I love him, Gil usually never hugs me.) That night, I saw a different side to this boy. I saw the kind and sweet and sensitive Gil, that not many people get to experience. That, rare moments like those, are the wonderful sweet blessings that lift my spirit and encourage me more than a hundred words! I love this boy and slowly I think he may be learning to love me back!

These 4 boys are absolutely precious, all of them with their individual quirks and attitudes. They are constantly bringing me joy and often act as rays of sunshine in my life. Thank you LORD for their lives and the precious bonds you have given us.

~ To God Be the Glory!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Brittany,

Thanks for sharing the personalities of these boys and a little bit about them, it makes me appreciate even more what you are doing with them and in their lives! You are touching them in ways that they (nor you) will ever forget. We continue to pray for you daily!!! We love you!

For His Glory,
Mom

denie heppner said...

i would say this is a pretty accurate description of "the monsters". ;) you are so lucky to be able to work with these future mighty men of God, Brittany. hang in there!

Anonymous said...

Brittany...Just like your mom said...Thank you so much for sharing the personalities of these boys. I couldn't help but cry as I read your post to my kiddos. It makes me so happy that you are loving them and caring for them so much. Praise the Lord that He has given you such a heart for these children. You are such a blessing in their life as I'm sure that they are in yours as well. We will continue to pray for you and follow your blog. Abel now thinks that we are adopting from the Phillippines because we are always looking at your blog. Ha Ha. I wish we were. Thanks again for being such a servant of Jesus Christ, for your obedience, and for the love that you are giving these children. Love in Christ, Angela

Mam-ma said...

Brittany,

When I read about the boys, it was such a blessing. You not only shared your thoughts but your heart and what a beautiful heart you have for these precious little guys who will grow up someday and serve the Lord. We may not know until we are gathered around God's throne just how many came to Jesus, because you LOVED, HUGGED AND SHARED Jesus with even just these 4 boys, not to mention all the others. We love you, Mam-ma and Grandpa