Bottomless Need for Love

I visited a family in a remote and isolated village to help provide school resources with a friend. While I was there I heard the story of the Sullivans. Russ, Nancy and their children moved to this village to represent the Gospel, bringing light into a dark place. They lived there for over a year, built a house and put down roots in hard soil. Then a little boy stole their hearts. A year ago, Deung was orphaned. He was small, alone and very sick. His parents had both died of AIDs. Russ and Nancy didn't know it, but he was living alone in his father's house. He was 9 years old, had been abused, neglected and then abandoned. The village rejected him. He would come to find love and acceptance from the Sullivans all day, and then leave in the evenings. When they discovered he was going to a dark and empty house every night, they went and gathered up his belongings in a bag and brought him to live in their home. Deung has AIDs, too. He was so sick when they took him in that they had to carry him up the stairs to his bed each night. They thought he only had months to live. They have had him for a year now, and in the warmth of their care and nurturing, he has blossomed. The medical attention they were able to provide has kept AIDs at bay.

I saw the rewards of their investment. Deung is now a Christian, a witness in the village. He came to the Sullivans empty, with a bottomless need for love and nurture. Now, he is overflowing with love. He has a family. He has a 1,000 watt smile that lights up his whole face. We would sit around the table for meals and he prayed for me and my family, his little hand squeezing mine. I went there wanting to give and received much more in return.

- Teresa , Thailand

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