Todays note is from Linda, an extraordinary lady who has come alongside me to serve beyond anything I dared hope for. Her love for what GIBTK does beyond measure as does her service to us. She also now serves as not only my "right arm" but serves as a board member.
I so often ask her are you quitting yet? She gets a look like she's ready to punch me in the arm and says in not so nice of tone, "Robert I love gibtk this is what God has called me to do!!!"
Here's Linda;
As our plane was landing in Danang I was looking forward to so many things. I know I was smiling with anticipation and others noticed. In fact they laughed at me. The first thing I would see at the airport would be those beautiful, loving faces of children and staff. It had been too long a wait for me and I could hardly contain myself. Hugs and laughter are freely given. I would watch with delight as first time guests would experience this themselves and be forever changed.
So many times I have wished there was a way for me to encourage more of the children. Before this trip God had placed a specific child upon my heart to encourage. When I met with her and asked if it was ok for me to be her special friend she was all smiles. Then she asked, but why me?
My answer, "Because you are precious, beautiful and loved. You have dreams I want you to achieve and know how proud I am of you." She just needed to know someone believed in her. It was a simple thing, but to a child that has never had an encourager it is everything.
I knew I would walk into a conference room to talk to possible heart candidates and families. I did not know I would meet a healthy, happy 18 month old baby that two months ago could barely catch her breath. I held and loved that baby the whole meeting. She laughed and played like my grandchildren did at her age. There was relief and joy in her parent's eyes. I was able to hold a little life that had been transformed, to touch a miracle! What a privilege.
Because I have not come in the summer before, this is the first time I experienced a beach party with the kids from our homes. The interaction with the older children helping the younger ones showed their bonding as a family and compassion and initiative to already pass on the lessons they have learned at Giving It Back To Kids. Most of the children had swimming lessons last year, but some were still fearful of the water, especially going in the ocean. What a joy to play with them, to take their hand and say you will be ok and I will not let you go. Watching the trust and then delight as they floated over the waves for the first time brought me such joy. I did not want to get out of the ocean.
The wheelchair distribution I attended had 20 recipients patiently waiting for us to arrive. The first person I saw there was with her grandson. No one else in her family lived nearby. Her eyes twinkled and she reached for my hands. She was 101 and reminded me of my grandmother when she smiled. She had not been able to walk outside her house the last two years because of the pain in her legs. She thanked me for this precious gift and wished ME blessings for MY life. It felt like I got to hug my 101 year old grandmother again.
I then looked across the room and saw a man with no legs and a beaming smile upon his face as he sat in his new wheelchair. He looked like my Uncle Lou. I had to look twice. This was feeling very different and I had to stop and think about what God was trying to show me. The most important thing to me is my family. I taught my children when they were little that "people are more important than things." Giving It Back To Kids is about people, about relationships, about family. Every time I am here God confirms for me again, this is where I want you to serve, to grow, and to do your part for My family.
This is the first time I have come in the sumner with teens and younger children. Watching them take it all in and process what they are seeing with fresh eyes fills me with hope for the next generation. I see maturity and compassion beyond their years. They saw things they did not know existed and they wanted to know how to change them. They ask questions and want to make a difference. I anticipate GIBTK will continue to grow and accomplish much more in the future. It is written on their hearts.
BBlessed
www.gibtk.org
Robert Kalatschan
Giving It Back To Kids
