Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

FIELD UPDATE

Among the three groups of special needs friends who participate in our weekly equine program, there is one that stands out. They are a small and diverse group of tent dwellers, some from inside the camp and some from tents scattered around the village. Their ages, backgrounds, physical abilities, and mental capabilities are all different, but they have something in common. They have grown to love and look out for each other. They enjoy being together. When they are together, their weaknesses disappear and their desire to learn grows.

The animals, including the horses, Oscar, and our ever-growing menagerie of ducks, geese, chickens, parrots, and peacocks, give them confidence that they are capable of doing and achieving. They are special lives indeed. Lives that were once shut down are now blossoming and growing week by week.

We save many equine chores for this group. Cleaning the saddles and tack and brushing the horses are now part of their routine. They also help us prepare snacks of fruits and vegetables for the horses. These guys just shine.

Today, our lead equine trainer, Wissam, shares about the amazing and radical transformations that we are witnessing.

Every member of this group has a unique personality, with a different way of seeing and interacting with the world. We have learned that, in order to reach these precious ones, we need to enter their world and, from that point, gradually find ways to bring them closer to ours. Everyone teaches us something new, and our perspective changes as a result.

Jalil's greatest dream is to learn to read and write, so we have begun working with him at his own pace, gradually introducing the alphabet and numbers. His joy and confidence are growing as he sees that he is able to remember and carry out simple tasks. We use what we have: rocks and stones, our chickens and parrots to teach. He will go and search for two stones when asked what the number two is.

We are excited to help him on his journey of learning, opening together a door he never imagined would be within reach.

Jalil's family shares something of his journey and progress: “Before he joined this group, he was filled with anxiety and sorrow and was totally isolated from the world due to his psychological condition and physical disability. He was scared of both the trainers and the horses, but over time he has gained the confidence to open up and share his pain with them.

They have become his family and have made him feel respected and valued as a human being. He tells us that he is a hero and deserves to be part of Springs of Hope. He deserves to study and learn. To hear him say that he is a hero and tell us about his accomplishments at the stables brings tears of joy to our eyes.

When he returns from his sessions at the stables, he washes and eats with his family, where he shares stories of his bravery and determination. In these times of sharing, we see that he indeed owns the entire world and that everything is possible for him.

We all give thanks to Springs of Hope. Jalil lies down at night in peace. The darkness is leaving him, the deep sorrow has gone, he takes care of himself, and he has hope for his future.”

Rahad is autistic, a gentle, quiet child who rarely smiles. His deepest connection is with Oscar, choosing him over us humans. His face usually lights up when he is with the horses. His body visibly relaxes, and we can see that in these moments he is at peace with himself and feels safe and secure.

Watching younger children like Rahad grow through such simple experiences reminds us that every small step is huge for them. With the right environment, understanding, encouragement, and patience, each one can build meaningful connections, grow in confidence, and learn simple tasks.

One of his family members told us that, since he has begun to learn to count, his connection with the stable has deepened, and he now wants to learn the alphabet and to read and write. When he first came to us, he did not speak because he thought the sound of his voice was ugly and his tone was unpleasant. As he learned that he was loved, accepted, and needed, he gradually began to release the sound of his voice, which had been locked inside him for eleven years.

Agha is quite the character and loves color-coordinated clothes. He frequently comes dressed in a suit and tie, as if attending a wedding. He has learned and remembered the names of the horses, which has given him immense confidence. To the extent that when one of his friends forgets or makes a mistake, he is able to gently correct and teach them.

He is also determined to learn to read and write and dreams of the day when he can read a book. Shex Khalid is teaching them with great patience and love. I would say that love is the winning factor. Love causes them to feel recognized, valued, and safe, and the rest is simply an ongoing miracle that we are privileged to witness.

Ayman is the "darling" of Springs of Hope, literally living in the Hope Center, from where he goes out to the stables. He cannot speak, yet he communicates completely, joking with the staff and his teammates alike. One of the challenges we have faced with him is his lack of understanding of social boundaries, which in our world can translate into a lack of respect. Through continual and gentle guidance and correction, he has made immense progress.

From Ayman, we learn that growth is not measured by vocal speech, but by curiosity, delight, and perseverance.

Parwar is going through an incredible transformation. His family was concerned about allowing him to join the group because of his very severe cognitive and emotional state, in which he was unable to understand, connect, or communicate in any way.

He is calmer, more relaxed, and happier than we have ever seen him. We honestly cannot believe that he is the same person. He and Jalil have formed a wonderful friendship, which has given him the confidence to be among others and not hide inside the tent. Together they want to learn to read and write. 

We are praying for Parwar's success, even with one or two numbers or letters.

His healing and progress are bringing life and healing to his entire family, a healing we never dreamed was possible. As a family, we pray for Springs of Hope every day, that God will bless them, bless the work of their hands, and keep the stables open for children such as our Parwar.

Attina has a severe deformity in her right pelvis, which in the past has caused her to be in a constant state of stress and anxiety and has separated her from her peers. She shares:

"I used to cry a lot and tell my mother that life is not fair and that I do not want to grow up like this. Thanks to my new life with horses and friends, I am proud of myself and everything I have achieved. I am special, but a good special, and I am happy with myself."

Friends, some of you support these precious ones financially. Thank you. They and their families value this support, which is yet another statement of belief in them and encouragement on their journey, apart from the very obvious provision that they so desperately need.

We are so blessed to be able to open our lives and our equine world, which continues to expand as we make honey and bring additional small animals for the students, to these unique ones. We have learned to set our hearts in place so that we can learn from them, watch for the unspoken signs, and allow them to take the lead. We simply set the stage and provide the platform for them to flourish.

We are grateful for the blessings and prayers of the families. We need them, just as we need and value yours. Thank you for enabling us to walk this equine journey and to gradually expand our abilities within it. As we now branch out into teaching the alphabet and numbers, pray that we find unusual ways to communicate and teach, so as to build each one up to their maximum potential.

I think of the verses from Psalm 139:

"For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

Nearly all of this life-loving group are mocked, scorned, rejected, and bullied by those around them. Our prayer is that they will know that they are "fearfully and wonderfully made," rejoice in that knowledge, and embrace, as Rabbi Sacks said, "the dignity of difference."

We enter the week of what is known as The Black Day in Yezidi history, August 3, 2014, the commencement of the genocide. We value your prayers as we mourn with those who mourn. We indeed weep, but with that weeping comes the knowledge that hope "is rising from the ashes."