I managed to bring two pairs of jeans with me on the Race: a nice pair from the Gap outlet that I got on sale and my most favorite pair of True Religion designer jeans. A bit impractical I know, but I can pair them with a t-shirt for a casual day at the orphanage or with a nicer shirt and look presentable for a team dinner on a day off and, most importantly, they are the only jeans I own that are stretchy enough to allow for a 5 to 8 pound weight fluctuation (an inevitable reality of this adventure). I’m not sure how much I will wear them in future months but I’ve worn them at least 18 of the 23 days we have been here and I’m very thankful they made the trip. And on Thursday, they got peed on.
I’ve started to look forward to our hospital days. I still have to take a deep breath before I walk in, but I know the joy that waits for us inside is so worth it. We know many of the kiddos by name and have been blessed with countless smiles, kisses and giggles. Shannon and I try every trick in the book to make the introverted Nelson smile at least four times every day. I alternate pushing Beverly and Diego around the courtyard and I’m exhausted long before they want the fun to end. I high-five David who always has the biggest smile on his face (most likely attributed to the four-hour-long back scratch he gets from Angela Aston). I love on Roberto and check in with Larz. And this past visit, I got to spend time with the adorable Lesley.
Lesley is a three-year-old bundle of fun. She’s blind and not much of talker. She’s a little cuddle bug and loves to be serenaded. When she particularly likes a song, she’ll clap her hands and the most precious smile takes over her face. As far as I can tell, her favorite tunes are Happy Birthday, Hakuna Matata from the Lion King and Beyonce’s Single Ladies (her arms go crazy during the “now put your hands up”’ part). After nearly two hours of singing, laughing and bouncing around, I was ready to put Lesley back in her chair and find another special friend to love on. As I hoisted her up, I realized there was a four inch trail of pee on my lap, on my True Religion jeans, and all I could do was laugh.
The past two and a half weeks have shown me that I am going to learn more about true religion, more about true relationship with Christ and with the people divinely placed on this earth in the upcoming months than I have my entire life. I’m going to get peed on. I’m going to get dirty. I’m going to be stretched in ways I’ve never imagined. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to realize the importance of the passionate pursuit of seeking opportunities to grow my faith but I earnestly embrace our current ministry and the ones in the months ahead. At the end of this journey, I know my heart (and my jeans) will be tattered, stained and broken in but will ultimately be more beautiful to my Lord and Savior than ever before.
Where are your jeans going to take you?
