Praise to our God of transformation

I've always loved stories!  I especially love true stories, because I know the author of those stories and he is the greatest.  He is incredible at weaving redemption into every story.  One of the best things about living and working where we do, I see, hear and/or experience some incredible stories.  Here is one of those stories:

In August of last year, I got a phone call from a friend who runs another special needs home in the area.  She told me about a little girl who was abandoned outside of the large mental hospital in Kampala.  The hospital was looking for a home to take her in.  We agreed to take her in and quickly realized we had a very sullen, withdrawn, autistic little girl whose few words made us cringe as they seemed to indicate the story of her young life.  It was obvious that this little girl was in need of some tender loving care. 

The mothers in the toddler house took on the challenge in a beautiful way and allowed God to use them to be His hands and feet in her life.  They picked up on her ways quickly and learned what helped her and what gave her joy.  As she began to feel secure in her environment and loved by the ones around her, her vocabulary began to change and this little withdrawn girl began to accept and even desire being held and loved.  

A few days ago, I sat amazed at this transformation, as she crawled on my lap and leaned in for a kiss from me.  She began to laugh and lean in over and over again for hugs and kisses.  It was amazing and that can only come from the Author of Life and the Craftsman of Redemption.