"A Time to Weep and a Time to Laugh..."

On August 27, 1993 the Lord blessed me with two amazing parents; a mom who spent 13 hours in labor and a dad who sacrificed a few chest hairs to relieve  my mom's pain of childbirth. Nineteen years have flown by since that day Mom and Dad took me home to meet the dogs and start a life here on Earth.


Papa and I



Last Monday, August 27, 2012 was my nineteenth birthday. It was also the first day of classes of my sophomore year at the University if Tennessee at Martin. But that morning before my first class, I found out that a dear boy in Jinja, Uganda passed away.

JoJo wasn't the first child I played with at Ekisa Ministries. I was busy playing soccer with Rachel while the other girls were falling in love with JoJo. I'm not very good with children under the age of five and though I don't know how old JoJo was, I know he could not have been over five years old.

JoJo's Famous Smile

When we returned to Ekisa the next day it was pretty hectic trying to find the right bathing suit for the right child and enough swimming diapers for all the kids. JoJo was leading one of the Team Girls, I think it was Claire, around the house and the yard. He would hold onto her hands and walk in front of her all around where everyone was gathered (I'm for sure he was showing off his swim suit). When all the kids going had on their bathing suits, one of the founders, Emily, began pairing us up. I was paired with JoJo. I wasn't sure about this match because JoJo seemed to be more comfortable with Claire or Paige or Cate or Shelby. But the moment JoJo wrapped his hands around my fingers, he had wrapped his hands around my heart too.
Once everyone was paired up with a swim buddy, we loaded into the vans and headed to the Nile River Resort. JoJo sat in my lap, leaning against my chest and looking out the window. He breathed like Darth Vader which made me want to call my younger brother, Benjamin. Benjamin's a huge Star Wars fan and I knew Benj would have loved to hear JoJo breathe.
The resort we were going to was cleaning their pool that day so we went to a different pool with a kiddie pool and a larger pool with a waterfall across the middle. JoJo and I sat on the edge of the kiddie pool while the other kids and their swim buddy all got in. Oh how I wish you could have heard the cries of joy and happiness when those kids felt the cold water on their skin! It was so fulfilling! But in all the excitement, JoJo and I sat on the edge and watched.

One of the volunteers kept telling me "JoJo loves the water. Let him get in the pool." I did not believe her one bit. I had been splashing water on JoJo's legs and he was not even liking the water at all. But with persistent urging, I got in the water and pulled JoJo into my arms. That boy held onto me like a baby spider monkey to its mama! I bent my knees so his legs and bottom were in the water and he climbed up my shoulder! So I spent about half an hour just walking around the kiddie pool with JoJo in my arms. The other kids had gone to the bigger pool so JoJo and I went there so we wouldn't miss out on the fun.

Once again, we began the process of sitting on the edge of the pool until I felt my shoulders burning from the sun (who wears sunscreen in Africa? Not me!). So I got in the pool and pulled JoJo into my arms again. I kept bending my knees more and more so that the water would reach his chest. The more I bent my knees though, the more JoJo climbed up my shoulder. I even would take my arms away from him and he would cling to me like a spider monkey.

 

Eventually, I began to lift JoJo in and out of the water. He seemed to not like this at first but once, I looked up at him and he smiled the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. If my cup was empty then, after JoJo smiled, my cup was overfilled with happiness and joy.
After swimming, ice cream was brought out for the kids. JoJo loved his ice cream and after he finished he has more ice cream on his face than in his belly. I wrapped him in a towel and rocked him until he was dry. I was then given "How to Change a Diaper 101" taught my one of the volunteers who coached me through changing JoJo's swim diaper for a regular diaper.
Too soon it was time to go back to Ekisa. We spent an hour just saying goodbye. Afterwards the can was filled with excited chatter as we all shared experiences of the morning.
 
When I left Ekisa that day I had plans to go back and visit JoJo and Rachel. But now only one will greet me next time. I bet though, JoJo is swimming laps in the Olympic-size pool in heaven...he's probably beat Michael Phelps records...twice! And I bet my Papa has taken JoJo on a ride on a green tractor not held together by duct tape and wire.
 
 
 

"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:...

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance...

a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)