Meet Merrelli:

I wanted to tell you all about this boy here at seminary. His name is Merrelli and he has a mental disability. He's a little one, only four years old, but he always walks around with the BIGGEST smile on his face.. so big that his mouth is usually gaping open. A stream of drool has usually made its way to his shirt, but he is so eager to run up and hug you. He is probably one of the most ticklish kids here and loves to make an attempt at cartwheels. He doesn't talk yet, but Rhoda says that we just need to keep praying that he will. I love to hold him and just talk to him. He's so responsive, but just can't seem to get any words out. While all the kids scream praises, he stands right in the middle of them and will do every motion to the song with the biggest smile on his adorable face. I have grown to love this boy so much, and I find myself worrying about his future. Of course, he holds a special place in my heart because I have a sensitivity towards his circumstance. I have been told that kids with disabilities have an extremely tough time here in Mozambique once they get older. I know that God has placed his family here on seminary for a reason. I am blessed to have this time to love on him.

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Anyways... I wanted to thank all of you that have left me comments, your encouragement means so much! I love hearing about what is going on with all of you too because it makes me feel so connected. I am so thankful for all of you.

The Lord is really working in me. I am really learning how to trust him fully with less reservations. Kaylee, my teammate, shared with us something her mom reminded her before she left, 'the Lord does not provide in bulk, he provides us our daily bread.' I am so thankful for that. This is the day that the Lord has made, I don't need to worry about tomorrow. The days seem to be exhausting and slow at times, but we are opening ourselves up to whatever is asked of us. It's such a blessing to be able to help the Restrick's out around the seminary. It's great to be able to do something for those that are continuously serving others. Tomorrow we will be going with one of the NYI presidents to clean church grounds. They are always hesitant to put us to work here, but we are having to reassure them not to treat us special just because we are Americans. It's sweet that they want to treat us as special guests, but we are having to remind them that we are here to serve. Americans are viewed with very high importance here- that we have all the answers and solutions, so we are working to break these assumptions. We want them to know that they are just as capable to learn, grow, and go places. We are one body.

As we are learning to communicate with the people around campus, we are building trust and relationships. We are loving them more and more by the day. They are great and are always shouting out a friendly greeting whenever they see us. (We are quite easy to spot around here, even from far away.) I hear "BOM DIA, (pronounced: bone diya) Ally-zone (or) Ally-sun." It's cute! And when they see Kristin, they say, "Cristina!", and Kaylee, they hardly say, but when they see Jerry, they say, "Oh, Tom and Jerry." Haha.. they're funny.

Anyways.. I'll talk to you all when I can.
Love Always, Allyson