Taxi Cab Blessings

Yesterday morning as we were on our way for our third and final sputum collect at 7 am. (Listen to my plural possessives...don't we sound like a nurse today?!) we called a taxi like we usually do and waited. And waited.

And waited. 

All the while the clock was ticking and I knew that if we don't get there in time that we would have to do it all over again next week. 

Finally the cab arrived. 

Now let me set the stage by saying that children who are in orphanages rarely, if ever, ride in vehicles. This can cause for some interesting issues when they are introduced to car riding. For many kids it is car sickness. Thankfully that is not our issue. 

For Daniel it is terror. Cling to the armrest, wrap feet around mama as many times as they will go terror. One of the ways that he combats these feelings of fear is by telling the drivers, "Hey, Uncle, slow down! What are you trying to do?"

Most of the drivers chuckle and proceed to ignore driving advice from an eight year old who looks like a six year old, acts like a two year old and can swear like a sailor. 

The driver that we got yesterday was different. 

Immediately he began a conversation with Daniel about how lucky he is to be going to America (which Daniel says he misses, by the way) and how Daniel needs to obey his new mommy and daddy and not run away and be honest and not steal and so on and so forth. 

The whole way to the medical center. 

I asked if he would wait for us because I thought he was really nice along with the fact it is nice to be able to leave when you want and not wait around for an elusive taxi.

All the way home was the same consistent chatter. "Dan! Love God! Obey your mama and daddy!" Etc.

When we arrived back at the church he let Daniel climb into the front seat and "drive" and geek with the controls. 

I gave him a nice tip and told him thank you and walked into the church feeling that it was really nice to meet someone who was so understanding. 

About 15 minutes later there was a knock on the door. It was the cabbie. He wanted to talk to "Dan" so Daniel went out with one of the ladies here and they had a chat. About five minutes passed and Daniel ran in with a big bunch of mums for me and said, "Mommy, I love you!" (in English) and ran back outside. I went out with him and saw that the driver had given him a pillow pet to use in the car to put on his mommy's lap so that he would not be scared.

When the lady from church came back in she said that he told her that Daniel reminded him of himself. And that he had also been adopted. And that his family saved his life and gave him many opportunities. 

And I realized, once again, that all along God has been bringing people into Daniel's life who speak truth to him and point him towards his Father. 

And that is not the end of the story. Last night, very late, a text came through to the girl who had called the cab in the first place saying that the cabbie is and will be praying for us and that he is thankful for my mothering heart. 

Good and bad are sprinkled though every day. But God is so gracious. Giving more than I could ask or imagine. A community of people who have gathered around all over the world, to bring this precious child of God to a family. A church that has welcomed us and stepped in when I have nothing left to give. A brother in law who took weeks in a row off so that he could minister to me and to this boy. A passport that was issued within two days as opposed to two weeks. A visa that took 20 minutes to get. Tickets home on Monday. A supernatural love that kicks in when the normal kind is fed up. A little boy who claps at the end of hymns during worship. Who says that he loves God.

An angel driving a taxi.