When we agreed to take two brothers from an orphange in Jarabocoa into our home for two weeks (thanks, Ben), it was really with the mind set that we would be helping them out.  I am sure we are helping and we have been having a great time with Angelo and Carlos, but I think they have impacted us just as much, if not more.  I have two stories to share:

Angelo - Sunday morning in church we are worshiping, all in Spanish, so Michelle, Ben and I are trying to sing along, which is quite a process.  Pronouncing words that we we don't know at a ridiculous pace while trying to figure out what it means and staying in tune is about as hard as it sounds for white people.  Four chairs away from me, Angelo was singing at the top of his lungs with a huge smile on his face.  He was not laughing at me.  It was incredibly beautiful seeing this 14 year old boy singing praises with every fibre of his body, so filled with joy and gratitude.  He was almost sold when he was 3, rescued and brought to an orphange but nearly died from malnutrition. He is small for his age and developed asthma as a result, and has lived at the orphanges ever since.  That is the part of the story that we know, but there is most likely more.  If he can find joy, if he can enter into worship with so much passion and gratitude for what God has given him, shouldn't it be so much easier for the rest if us, for me?

Carlos - He is still really quiet, but we are starting to see more of his personality come out.  We went to PriceSmart to get some groceries (it is like a Costco) and he and Ben asked to get the DR brand of fruit loops.  Carlos smiled for hours.  His athletic ability is unbelievable, especially in soccer, but yesterday afternoon he was tired and just relaxing in a chair listening to some Spanish worship music we had playing.  Then he too started singing.  It was not with the energy and volume of his brother, but it was still beautiful.  For about an hour he sat, relaxed, sang and glorified God and blessed our family as we listened.