My New Friend

3:20 am: Alarm goes off!
SNOOZE!
3:29 am: Alarm sounds.
SNOOZE!!!
3:38 am: Alarm sounds…again. Roll out of bed. Turn shower on.
4:25 am: Head to The Church @Battle Creek for the 2012 Orphan Run Oklahoma!

This was how I started by morning! Unloading cars, setting up tables, making announcements on where to pick up race bibs.

7:15 am: Introduced to our Celebrity Runner.

I knew a little bit about our lil’ celebrity but not much. I knew he was rescued off of Lake Volta in Ghana and now is adopted into his forever family. That’s all I needed to share with our running crowd. I, of course, asked his mom if she minded if I shared a little of his story with our runners.

Mom says, “Yes, please share what God has done in his life.” She proceeds to tell me! Lil’ E was sold into child slavery at age 2 on Lake Volta in Ghana. He was rescued by The Touch a Life Foundation at age 4 and then adopted into his forever family at age 5! Oh dear…I am suppose to share that without crying. Not a chance!

I asked lil’ E if he minded me sharing his story. Even at age 7, it’s his story to tell! One must ask permission! He says, “No, you tell them!” He answered in such a sweet and matter of fact manner! Here we go!!

So, I stand up in front of a crowd of 1,000 people, high five my new friend, and begin to tell his story! I cried…who wouldn’t!

I was blessed to spend time with this sweet THUNDER loving little boy all morning! I bragged to him that I was going to game 4 tonight. He says, “Yah, I’m going too!” Ah man, I wanted him to think I was cool!

Have you ever met a child that inspired you and brought so much hope into your life just by his presence? I don’t think I have! I met him today. I’ve met inspiring people, but never one that can say he was SOLD, RESCUED, FREED, & ADOPTED! What a story to tell!