And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. -Genesis 2:7
“Richard.”
He’s stirred from his nine year-old boy daydream, eyes wide and fixed on mine.
“Richard, when you are a man…”
He nods along but drifts off again as if his future self is standing in the corner. He eyes the tall man’s height, his stubble, every detail of his grown-up self.
“…what will you be?”
His eyes find mine again. “A pilot.”
Confidence.
“A pilot?”
He nods. We laugh and tell him Angie is afraid to fly. So many people are. Richard isn’t and he’s not interested in hearing more about those who are – he’s gone again. I can see in his eyes that he’s floated away from the conversation, up up up in his dream.
“Richard,” I say. “Have you ever been in a plane?”
He hasn’t. His mother shakes her head and chuckles out the details of Richard’s obsession. “He’s seen books, that’s all. All he plays is flying an airplane. All he draws…airplanes! Always airplanes!”
His mind is in the clouds. His hope too.
“Richard.”
My voice is an annoying tether yanking him back toward earth – but he tolerates me and listens.
“Richard, I fly all the time.”
His eyebrows lift.
“I was probably on…100 airplanes last year.”
“What?” he blurts.
“Yep. I fly all the time. Maybe one day, when you’re a pilot, I can ride on your plane?”
He pulls the corners of his mouth downward, his lower lip puffed out, as if giving my request serious consideration
On the one hand, he thinks, I could use the business. On the other hand, this guy will talk my ear off.
Then Richard raises his chin and nods to me. We have a deal, I think. Someday.
“Do you know how to make an airplane?” I ask.
He doesn’t so I beg a piece of paper from our translator, Katie, lay it flat on my giraffe legs and begin folding. One step at a time.
Richard leans forward with his feet firmly planted at a safe distance.
I fold in half. He inches forward.
Bring an edge to the center crease. Then the other. He studies. Another inch.
A bend here. Flip. A bend there.
I grip the finished work between thumb and finger, pull my arm back…”Now we fly!”
A blur darts past Richard and soars through the open door. Richard chases after it.
He returns to the doorway and zooms his plane past the chattering adults. It zips across the little house.
Eventually, he pauses to rest, and studies every crease of it, admires every bend. He smiles thanks to me for this gift, for creating what he couldn’t.
Around the corner Richard’s classmates sit at desks dreaming. They write their goals on a worksheet, and list the steps they’ll take to chase them down. Some dreams are behind glass on the wall.
“I want to stand up for the poor and abused.”
“My dream is to be a lawyer.”
“My dream is to be a civil engineer.”
“…policeman.”
“…teacher.”
Children once grounded by poverty, once unable to think beyond the next meal, now dream of their future. They see it. They chase.
One step at a time.
Math. History. English. Writing. Bible. Checkups. Food. Friendships. Hugs.
These gifts for $38. Letters. Prayers. All from the God who formed them in the beginning.
He is forming them still.
Before a tearful goodbye at Richard’s house, we stand in a circle. Richard folds his hands around his folded gift and I pull him close and push last words through the lump in my throat.
“…please protect Richard and his family. Help him to study hard and talk to you anytime he has trouble and needs a friend. And please let Richard fly an airplane someday high above the clouds…”
Amen.
God uses Compassion International’s ministry, and your letters and prayers to form children into dreamers. Sponsor a child today and prepare a child for flight.
Ruth Abel says:
Amen. Amen.
Jolanthe says:
Amen. đŸ™‚
Kristen Strong says:
Wow, Shaun. You had me right in the room with you watching it all. You tell Richard’s story so well.
And this right here: “God uses Compassion International’s ministry, and your letters and prayers to form children into dreamers.” This sums it all up perfectly. Thank you ~ this post is a gift!
Shaun Groves says:
Wish you could thank Richard. I have no doubts he’ll fly someday. What an easy story to tell. Thanks for reading, Kristen!
Lindsay says:
So good.
Vicki says:
Beautiful. I love this ministry!
Jill Foley says:
Now whenever I see paper airplanes laying around my house I will think of Richard.
Shaun Groves says:
And say a prayer. Thanks for being here, Jill.
Jill Foley says:
Of course…I forgot the most important part. I will say a prayer!
I found a paper airplane under the couch after reading this post and have put it on top of the shelf in our family room. I’ve already said several prayers for Richard after seeing the yellow airplane on display!
Teena says:
yes, like Jill… I will think of airplanes when Wes/Wyatt fly their planes around the house! Thanks for sharing.
grace~
Joy says:
Thank you, Shaun for bringing this future pilot into my home. Tears welled up in my eyes and I had to swollow past the lump in my own throat.
Steve Jones says:
I love, love, love this post. What a prayer! May we always pray prayers like that for kids.
And, by the way, well done on the paper airplane. If you are going to make a kid a paper airplane, make him a good one. Well done.
Yvonne says:
So, so sweet!
Robin Dance says:
There are so many reasons to support Compassion, but you’ve shared the story for one of my favorite reasons–
it’s not just about extending immediate relief for basic needs (the now);
it’s not just about sharing the Gospel and the means for life eternal;
it’s about sowing the seeds for future, for allowing children to dream of a better way, to imagine beyond a challenging childhood.
Is life without dreams life at all?
Mad airplane folding skills, Shaun :). I can imagine Richard flying it until it’s grounded and yellowed from age.
Shaun Groves says:
You really get it, Robin. Wish you were here to put into words for all of us.
Kris says:
Oh my. I love this. Starting my morning with tears and thanksgiving for Compassion, for bloggers who have become the hands and feet or Christ, for this little boy, Richard, and for a God who hears our dreams and loves us, right up from the ground, He loves us.
Thanks Shaun. Keep telling the stories.
Michelle ~ Blogging from the Boonies says:
Such a sweet post. You’re reminded me to make a few paper airplanes and send them along the next time I send of letters to our Compassion children! I don’t know if I have any potential pilots in our group of 15 but they may like them just the same!
Jen C. says:
Thanks for sharing these awesome stories with us. You are so great with these kids!
Kelli says:
Oh Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
Amy says:
My little Maxwell wants to be a pilot too. Paper airplane! Great idea! I shall send off the instructions and supply for one this weekend. đŸ™‚
Misti says:
Love this! Our family will be praying for Richard & our prayer trigger for him is going to be airplanes!
Katie Axelson says:
I love the image of your hands on his shoulders, Richards hands folded in prayer, and the airplane between them. It’s a powerful one. You turned those notes into a great post, Shaun (as always).
Jennifer Wilson says:
My son, Elias, is constantly making paper airplanes. I honestly get irritated sometimes when I see those pieces of folded paper all over the floor. It is so amazing how the simplest things in life are what can connect us the most.
Shaun Groves says:
Yep. I never thought all that paper airplane making as a boy would ever connect me to a boy in Peru one day. God works all things together…
Tracie A. says:
I have been a sponsor of a little girl (well not so little any more) (Maria M.) in the Highlands of Peru since 2004. I would love if you would give her a hug for me! Every post of yours brings tears to my eyes. I am so thankful you guys are there sharing the love! Thank you!
Kayla says:
This has been my favorite story from Peru, so far. What a wonderful little boy with big dreams! I pray that God is able to lead him down the path to his dream. I love that Compassion is helping kids dream like they should.
Denise says:
Ah, the timeless art of making paper airplanes…my daughter loves them, too. Beautiful story! Praying for you all and the children.