Daddy is Home!
James Lee, President
“Rebekah… Study hard and stay healthy. We will
see each other very soon. The next five months
be your golden opportunity to establish most
intimate relationship your Lord. Mom and dad
will always be praying for you. I love you my
baby!” “I love you, too… Dad…”
Last spring, our only daughter had to leave home
for the first time in order to attend an university
in Argentina. She studied abroad in order to
graduate and Argentina was the final destination
for her.
By God’s amazing grace, I was able to drop her
off in Argentina since my meeting dates with the
pastors of Peru and Rebekah’s report date to her
school were concurring.
I knew it was going to be very difficult goodbyes
but the reality was much worse. When Rebekah
couldn’t finish saying “I love you, too… Dad…”
and start dropping marble size tears, I just
melted to bawling myself. Next five months were
extremely hard for our family. “Mom, public
transportation is not good here. Buses don’t come
according to schedule and I have to walk in rain a
lot.”
“Dad, there was a guy in a black hoody who was
following me home today.”
“I got lost while going to sunrise Easter Sunday.
And there was a guy who pulled his car over and
told me to get in…”
“Mom, you know how I don’t eat spaghetti? The
host family eat spaghetti at least two or three
times a week.”
My wife and I had to be on 24/7 “Prepare to take
the call” mode! “Please don’t forget to carry your
phone all the time. You don’t want to miss the
call from Rebekah…” My wife had to remind me
each day. Then, one night…“Dad, I am so scared
and can’t sleep. The host family is on a trip and
their dog is barking like crazy. I think someone is
outside…”
I thought my heart was beating at one hundred
miles per hour but I said “Honey, don’t worry
about anything. Lord Jesus is right there with you
and He will protect you. Let’s do this. Why don’t
we turn on our Face Time and you go to sleep
while dad will watch you.”
“Ok. Thanks dad… Can you see me?”
As I stayed up all night to watch our daughter fall
asleep that night, our God visited me in my heart.
“My son… You are terribly concerned and
worried for your precious daughter staying afar,
aren’t you? And you wish you can fly over to
her right this moment and bring her home to
complete safety, don’t you?”
“Yes, Lord! I don’t know if I can handle this any
longer…”
“My son… That’s how I exactly feel about the
orphans in the world! They have no one to
depend on… no one to call mom and dad…
crying alone in darkness as their hearts are filled
with sorrow and fear… I wish I can run to those
orphans and hold them in my arms and tell them
that daddy is home. Who would understand my
heart’s desire?”
By now, I was able watch my daughter sleeping
like a baby through the screen on my phone.
Then I saw hundreds
of orphans in Peru,
India and all over the
world overlapping my
daughter’s beautiful
face.
“Dear Lord… We will
go… We will go and
tell them that Daddy is
home!”