It began with an early start to what I thought was just another day, just another concert. I was wrong. 7:45 am we were ready by the door when our contacts picked us up talking us to a city on top of the mountain an hour away. The day consisted of walking the streets handing out flyers before the concert that evening. When the time came to start setting up for the concert we made our way over to a park nestled in between apartment buildings. Upon arrival we noticed that there were a lot of kids running around with parents no where to be found. Not long after we had kids jumping into our arms, taking us by the hand and speaking to us in Hungarian like we knew what they were saying. Throughout the length of the concert we entertained and loved these kids with joyfilled hearts.
Kiti was my favorite although they were all precious, she especially captured my heart. Like glue she was stuck to my side for the entire night. Every once in a while, grinning from ear to ear, she would look into my eyes, and would then proceed to kiss my check, turning hers so I could return it. Her eyes were big and brown, she had sandy blonde hair and chubby little cheeks. She looked like the daughter I never had. If I could have taken her home with me, I would have, right then and there. I would cuddled her and kissed her little cheeks as much as she wanted. Holding her and loving her made me feel so wonderful. It felt like everything was right in the world and nothing else mattered. For those few precious hours I was completely content and I thought, this is why I came on The World Race.
It saddens me to know that all of those darling children were running around unattended not getting the love and care they needed from the ones who gave life to them. Where were their parents I wondered. How could they let their children play at the park alone? Why aren’t the parents loving their children the way they need to be loved? How would I feel if my kids were playing with random people in the park?
It’s hard to walk into a situation like this that I am unfamiliar with, and not come up with my own ideas of what’s going on. I can make all the assumptions that I want about what’s happening in those homes and decide how I would do it better, or differently if they were my kids, but I have no idea what the truth of it is. Maybe these families are caring for each other the only way they know how, or the best they can.
It was hard to say good bye to all the little treasures but they were such a blessing to me and I wouldn’t trade that night for anything in the world. God knew what I needed to make my heart smile and I didn’t even have to tell Him.
