I woke up feeling tired, with the words echoing inside me that the head of the kindergarten threw at us: “we are sorry, all the places are filled up” … “we would like to start a new group, all the conditions are given, but we haven’t received the permission from our operator for years” … “at the end of the summer, when administration starts up again, we will send you the official notice of rejection”.
I was angry, because I felt powerless once again. How could I make sure that Vince is part of a community starting in September? He is past 5 years old, and he has never experienced what it is like to belong somewhere where he is accepted, where he can have friends, where he can play with children his own age. And on top of all that the Mozgásjavító Óvoda (Kindergarten for Movement Correction) seemed so perfect, because as we entered their open house, I felt right at home. I was enchanted by the picture that welcomed us: the teachers were using scooters in the hallway to be able to keep up with the speed dictated by the little ones in their wheelchairs.
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:31-33
I have often imagined Vince belonging to that group of kids whizzing around in their wheelchairs, but then the feeling crushed me that another school year would begin, and nothing would change. Our lives would be again confined within four walls, and we would be again like two peas in a pod. I began a frantic chase; I don’t know how many kindergartens, family day cares and development centers I called, but of course they rejected me from everywhere.
And then I realized I am playing god again, I am trying to solve my problems. Jesus says: “come to me, all you who are weary”, “you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-30). Does this mean I don’t have to do anything, and Jesus will keep calling the kindergartens?
No, He is much greater than that! He will organize people and situations around me that I won’t even notice, and I will receive help everywhere. So I prayed, I sowed the seeds of the truth, so I could reap faithfulness. Not even a week went by, the blessings began to come, and I started harvesting the fruits of God. I have been doing this harvest non-stop since the beginning of the summer.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
The first fruit found me in a simple way. A mom whose boy lived with a tracheostomy tube for a while wrote me a message, asking how we were doing, and if Vince had learned to speak already. After writing back and forth we made it to his son’s speech therapist, and Vince got better week after week. Last week he was able to pronounce the sounds of the word ‘computer’ one by one, and I felt great joy, because finally I knew the day was coming when he was going to talk.
The ripening of the second fruit was like a fairytale. I was praying while showering, and I felt like I was going to collapse from exhaustion, although it was still morning. I opened my heart and I asked Jesus to help, because I couldn’t go on any longer. It’s unbelievable even to me, but I heard an inner voice which said: “You are going to meet a helper today!” After breakfast we went to church, and after that we all had coffee outside in the churchyard. I sat down on a bench with Vince. I turned around and my eyes got stuck on a lady’s gaze. She spoke to me, asking me if we knew each other. I said no. Then I remembered the message from the morning, and I asked her what she did for a living. As it turned out, she was a teacher. A week later she was with us!
The harvest is not over, once the fruit is ripe, it has to be picked, so it will start rotting. My husband bought a book dealing with swallowing problems. The writer has a center where children’s eating difficulties are corrected with physiotherapy. Two weeks after buying the book we were already at a treatment, and we met a fantastic expert. Vince has been able to drink out of a cup since then by swallowing the sips in quick succession, which is something he wasn’t able to do before.
Starting kindergarten in September was still ways away, but God had already organized a complete development program, as in just a few short weeks a speech therapist, a teacher and two physiotherapists were working with Vince. This was already a miracle in itself, because in the summer everyone is on vacation or rests, but God is Omnipotent, nothing is impossible for Him.
“Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
John 16:23-24
God’s light keeps ripening the fruits. Last week Jesus showed up at our house with a truck and dumped a ton of fruits on our yard. How did He do it? This way: my husband looked at his phone and started reading an e-mail. I was playing with Vince when I heard „Oh, goodness! Listen! Vince was accepted to the kindergarten! The principal wrote to us that they had received the permission to start a new group!”
I ran to him, we read the letter together. I laughed, I jumped up and down, I glorified God, then I picked up Vince, we twirled around, and then I cried and laughed again – “and your joy will be complete.”
Hi Vera!
Your page is super cool. I love it.
It would be nice to see more pictures of Vince’s progress.
We go to church every Sunday and Marci is chosen to read select passages from the Bible during the service :).
We will keep you in our prayers.
Javi
Thank you Javi!
It is so good that you also feel the power of Jesus and you teaching your small child to think about Him!
Thanks for your all pray! I”ll keep you and your precious family in my pray as well.
God bless you!
Verka
PS: I have uploaded a new blog today – What are you thankful for? – and in it you can find more pictures about Vince. 😀