Lessons from the Bee Boy

I had one of the coolest encounters with God tonight through one of his precious sons.

Joseph

Joseph is who we call "The Bee Boy" at our house. He actually holds a special place in my heart. He was one of the teenagers that worked with me when I was managing at Chick-fil-A. He's a homeschooler & maybe a little misunderstood, but really one of the sweetest kids ever. He was always telling me about his bees that he keeps & was so passionate about them.

I got a crowdfunding email from him this week about a fundraiser he was doing for a mission in Haiti with his bees. I was interested in hearing more & he called me to share his story. He tells it better than me, so I'm putting it below (y'all this is GOOD stuff- mind you, this is a 17 year old boy):

As of last Sunday, the Lord called me to Haiti to help them learn how to take care of Honey bees. Let me tell you the whole story: It all began on Thursday afternoon when I was at my model UN meeting and a girl spoke on the problems in Haiti. Before this I knew nothing about Haiti, but now my heart ached for them. So for days I was constantly thinking about Haiti. Then Sunday came. On Sunday I entered our little church and up on the wall was the word HAITI. I thought in my head, "how funny is it that the LORD has brought it up again." Then a missionary took the stage. He talked about how the Lord was using ordinary people like me to help change the lives of the people of Haiti. So I prayed and asked God how can I help, and as clear as day I felt him say, “Tell the missionary you are a beekeeper.” So I told the Lord, “no he doesn’t need a beekeeper, I will tell him I am a farmer”. And God repeated His first statement. So I went up to him and shook his hand and said, “Hello I am a beekeeper.” And then his hands started to shake, and he shouted “The Lord sent me a beekeeper!” He then explained how they planted a garden, but did not have any fruit. So a lady told him they needed bees, so he prayed for bees, and they came. But now he has a problem, because he has two big hives one in a tree the other in a tire, but he doesn’t know how to care for them, no one does, so he prayed for a beekeeper. When he told me this I was amazed, since I had always wanted to use beekeeping for God, but I didn’t know how. So I accepted his offer to go with him to Haiti and teach them how to take care of bees. I told him I am not the best beekeeper around here, but he told me he knows I am the one God has chosen to send. Since then the Lord has confirmed His will countless times, in ways that are to crazy to explain and in ways so simple it makes me smile.  –Joseph DeMarzo

"This is an amazing story!" I told him. "Oh, but it gets better!" he said. He went on to share with me about when he decided to be obedient, God brought the first $800 in in one day's time. He said he was praying about who to ask for help to get there. God told him to ask his neighbor, but his wife had just committed suicide & he did not think it was wise to ask someone who was hurting so much for financial help. But he kept hearing that still small voice. When he stepped out of his front door, his neighbor was in the yard. He shared his story with him & the man said, "But aren't you afraid to die? You will probably die over there in Haiti." Joseph told me that God gave him the next words, because he didn't know how to respond.

"Well, I'm not afraid to die because I know that I would go to heaven."

The next part of the story brought me to tears.

"Next, that man buried his face in his hands & fell to the ground in tears." 

He went on to share that the man said that Joseph's assurance of his salvation changed him. It was exactly what he needed to hear that day. He was changed by the obedience of a 17 year old boy. He went & got all the money out of his wallet and gave it to Joseph, telling him that he wanted to support what he was doing in whatever way he could.

Blinking back tears as chills ran down my spine, I truly felt the presence of the Lord in that moment driving down the road. Joseph was so obedient, so full of faith, and so in tune to the Spirit. And God used him.

As I hung up the phone, I thought of all the ways that I haven't been obedient. When I haven't heeded to God's word, or even been still enough to listen. I've ignored the Spirit's nudge, I had lacked faith, and I haven't been obedient.

God used Joseph to bring this truth straight to my core.

I don't know if anyone reading this feels led, but please consider helping sweet Joseph get to Haiti. He is going for 2 weeks at the beginning of October to share with the people how to care for these bees. And let me tell you- he is the expert, even if he doesn't admit it. He's spent so much time studying, researching, and taking care of his own bees. He even prays for them. I'm SO excited to see the Lord working in his life & I can't wait to hear what God does while he is overseas.

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Please keep him in your prayers! 

If anything, I believe this story has something that we can all learn something from.

In what ways are we heeding to the voice of God? 

Are we being FULLY obedient to Him? 

I actually have another AMAZING story about another AWESOME 17 year old boy (is this a theme?! I pray so!!), but I will save that for a later post so I can brag on him a little more. 

Truthfully, my faith has been wavering lately. I have really been struggling with some feelings of questioning God's plans with our adoption. I haven't wanted to tell anyone because I've been ashamed & very fearful... will share this more in my next post.

Until then, I'm ever covered in His grace alone,

Kailee Bowen

Nunca Cambies.

Never change. 

I've seen these children grow. I've watched them mature. I've been their sister, their mom, their friend. 

Every trip is so different. They change so much. They grow & become young men so quickly. One trip they think I'm the greatest person on the planet & the next, they've moved on & don't open up to me. Each trip I have some fear of the changes going on in their lives & hearts. I know time can heal but it can also hurt, as these children can put up walls and grow hardened and calloused as they try to forget the wounds of their past. 

My heart is full of love, pride, and sadness, all at once. Every time I see their faces in my mind, I feel weak. These boys are my family. They are my constant reminder of what Jesus has done for me: He's made me a part of His family. 

I am His.

They are mine. 

I am so proud of so many of them. The way some of them are maturing & following God's call makes my heart so full. To hear them talk about their future plans & pursuing God's will for their life. I couldn't be more proud & excited to see what the Lord does in & through them. I know without a doubt they will be the change. The light. The difference. To their community. In their city. To their future families. 

I walked with Alexander through the jungle. I remember the impact he made on me when he first came 4 years ago. His mom raised him right. He quoted scripture. He was wise beyond his years. And at 16, he was becoming a man like one we've always dreamed of these boys becoming. He commands a room. He has a presence. He is so mature. He's handsome. He's so strong. He's faithful & honest & he loves His Jesus with all He has. 

"I can see you working here as a leader, Alex," I told him. 

"You love these kids and you know how to lead. You are different. God is doing something in you." 

He responded telling me that is his desire. That he wants to go to school & get married & serve full time in this ministry. 

I held back the tears as I felt my heart would explode. I am SO incredibly proud of him for overcoming all odds. For being a man of God. 

Sadness fills my heart as I see some children close themselves off to God & His promises. They become hardened. They close down. They put up walls to cope with their emotions. So many of them come from such dark pasts, full of deep hurt. They carry such heavy burdens. I only wish I could lift them from their shoulders. I wish I could beg them to have Jesus take those burdens so they don't have to bear the weight. 

For now, I can only do what I can do be their constant. I can go see them & love until I can't give any more. Every six months. Twenty days a year. Oh, how I wish it could be more.  Through piles of paperwork, hours on the phone with the airlines, tears over the schemes of the enemy to try & thwart our plans. To disunify our team. To stress me out. 

Every bit is worth it. 

To see their sweet faces. To hug those precious necks. To hear their giggles in the hammock. To hear them call my name- every 5 minutes. To hold their dirty hands. To kiss their foreheads. To hold their faces in my hands & look into those deep brown eyes. 

As I prepared to leave, I did all I could to take in every moment. To engrave their faces deep in my mind. To etch those memories so deep so I can relive them in America. Sitting in the maloka, I went around and held each of them in my arms. I told them how special they were and how much I loved them. I told them I would always come back. And I won't make them a promise I can't keep. Peering into those deep brown eyes & feeling weak over those precious dimples, I held Rogelio's face in my hands. I'm so proud of him. Of all of them. He's grown into an incredible young man. He's always happy. He's always content. 

"Nunca cambies," I told him. 

Never change.

And I broke down. I lost it as he enveloped me in a hug I never wanted to end. Precious boy, God has a plan for you. 

I plead with God & what he wants me to do. 

Am I doing enough? Am I supposed to be away from them? Am I giving selflessly enough? 

It hurt more this time to leave them than ever. Every departure Brings fear about the time in between. Fear that some won't be there when I get back. Fear of their hearts. Fear that the enemy will do absolutely everything in his power to keep them away from the Light. 

But I can't live in fear. 

All I can do is pray. 

Pray for their hearts to be mended and close to their Heavenly Father. Pray that He will bring them comfort in their times of fear and loneliness. Pray for protection over their lives. Pray for God to fight for them. Pray that He will do a mighty work in them so they may be the change. 

I don't know if they'll ever know how much they've changed my life. How much I adore them & think of them every day. How I would cross a thousand oceans and rivers and sleep on 100 airport floors. Sit on the phone for hours with the airline. Fill out paperwork until my hand hurts. Fundraise until I'm completely exhausted. Do whatever it takes. 

Just to see their faces. 

Sometimes I wish they would never change. But I know Jesus changed me & He can also change them- for the good.  All I can do is pray for the change in their hearts to be one that mirrors that of Christ Jesus. 

Covered by His grace, 

Kailee