I Once Was Lost But Now I'm Found

“I once was lost but now I’m found” - a phrase that we have all sung probably a thousand times in our lives. A comforting phrase at that; and really one of the greatest truths we could possibly sing. As Christians, we all know and feel deep in our souls, that if it wasn’t for the firm and loving grip of Jesus Christ, we would be lost forever. It’s a loving grip that “snatches” from the fire. It transfers us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son. Every believer on Earth can sing this phrase as a reality.


Yet I and others like Kylee, Julie, Chris, Micah, and everyone else who traveled to serve here in Swaziland have met children who can sing this not only as a spiritual reality, but as a physical one too. Being literally lost and then found must be so vivid, and the grip of Jesus so tangible for them. I have met teens who were on the streets, had no bed, no home, barely any clothes, and their food was beer or cigarettes. They knew nothing but pain, rejection, and sorrow before Jesus intervened. (I’m not saying no one in the US has been physically lost, or has gone through the same type of things these here have gone through, but these are the stories I know).


One such boy came to live with us at the Lighthouse on Hawane Farm this week. His name is Manhla, and as an eleven year old is only about the size of a 5 year old. He has cerebral palsy and his mother abandoned him when he was very young, leaving him to his father and stepmother, who did nothing less than leave him outside with the dogs to fend for his food. This frightened him so badly that he pulled into the fetal position, and did so for such a length of time that his legs atrophied and he lost the use of them. He also lost the ability to speak.


The Luke Commission discovered his situation and took him to the hospital. Now he has come to bless us in Hawane. He has the smile of an angel, and whenever anyone speaks to him he just lights up. When Manhla is in a room, he is the center of attention, because everyone loves him so much already. Jane and Nokuthula care for him daily, putting braces on his legs to help straighten them out, teaching him to eat with a spoon instead of grabbing hungrily at the food. All of the children and youth love him. They stroke his head and speak gently to him; they give him things; they help take care of him.


God has already begun to work miracles. While on the first day he was wildly grabbing for food, he now has been able to eat pretty neatly with a spoon - an immediate improvement that was not really expected. He loves everything that goes on around him, and looks curiously, bobbing back and forth with excitement. This morning he actually managed to crawl to Nokuthula and even tried to stand up. Just a week or so ago, this boy had nothing - literally, nothing. Today, he has many brothers and sisters, mothers and aunts, friends and helpers. He has hugs and kisses and tender touches where before was only hate and fear.


This reminds me so much of the parable Jesus told about the shepherd who lost one sheep and left the other 99 in the flock to go and find it. Manhla was just one child out of thousands in Swaziland with no home and no love, and one child out of millions in the world. I pray that one day Manhla will be able to stand on legs that did not work before and testify that God was not satisfied with leaving him to fend against dogs; that he will be able to speak powerful words of truth with a mouth that was once mute and preach that Jesus Christ is the only one who has the compassion and the power to save us from death, and bring us out of the darkness. I hope you will pray too that this boy will see that God knew about him before he was ever born, and that like Hagar he will be able to proclaim that this is “a God who sees me.” I believe that He will do this; that God will use Manhla to spread the gospel to those who don’t believe God sees or hears them.


But for now, please just pray that he learns he is loved and that he doesn’t have to be afraid anymore. Please pray that he learns to speak and walk, that his legs become healthy, and his heart is filled with the joy that comes from knowing Jesus found him; that he once was lost, but now is found.

Written By Stacey Weneck