Another Children's Day has come and gone here in Mozambique. June 1 is a national holiday to celebrate our country's most precious resource...our children. There are parties everywhere... at schools, in homes, and in centers and projects that serve children. This is the one day of the year where each child gets a present, no matter how meager a family's finances may be. They may get just a party hat, a candy, or a balloon...no gift is too small. To prove my point, as I passed a local school, I saw a young boy, maybe 10 years old, walking out holding a balloon in the way you would expect him to carry a treasure of greatest worth... staring at it in wonder, turning it over and over to look at it from all angles. He came to a friend and passed it off to him, who exhibited the same awe for this small treasure. He took it in his hands, gave it a good look, and then handed it back oh so gently to its rightful owner. 

We ourselves had lots of parties going on this day. We had parties in the morning for our 4 Beacons of Light community projects. The verandas were decorated with balloons and streamers. The children were given party hats, prize bags, and presents. There was cake to eat and cool drinks to enjoy. In the afternoon, we had a party for our Sunshine children. We had our fill of chicken, rice, french fries, salad, cool drinks and cup cakes. At all of the parties, we sang and danced and played and rejoiced together.

My very favorite moment of the day came at the very end of it. We were passing out treat bags to our Sunshine children. They were bubbling over with excitement as they waited for their name to be called out to receive their gift bag. There was lots of noise, movement, and happiness. In all of this clamor, I spied Helio sitting behind me. My heart was instantly melted as I looked upon this little boy of ours. This little boy who had been abandoned, was living in squalor, and was left with no opportunity before him until God brought us together. 

Here he quietly sat... in his own little world... reading a book. He was so absorbed in it that he didn't even realize what was going on around him. Our typical Helio is all boy. He loves to play and can be quite mischievous, both at home and at school. When our phone rings and we discover it is the school calling, we can be pretty sure it will be about Helio.  Recently, reading clicked for Helio, and it has totally altered his course. It has taken him until 5th grade to master the ability to read, and he is beyond enthralled with the new world that has been opened up to him in books.  We are excited for him and trust that he will now take school a bit more seriously. We look forward to seeing him use his newly acquired skills to forge ahead. 

As I closed my eyes to sleep at the end of a long day, this was the image I carried with me from Children's Day. Best day ever, in all ways! Especially the unexpected moments!