For a while now I have been working on how to
write this blog. I’ve been trying to
find the words that express the need of the orphans that I have fallen absolutely
in love with.
Coming on the World Race I knew that there was a
chance that I would have ministry at an orphanage. I honestly prayed that I wouldn’t be placed
at an orphanage; I didn’t think that my heart could handle it. Five out of the ten months of ministry have
been at orphanages and have proven that I was right. My heart couldn’t handle those children,
their love, and their need.
Each month I have felt as if my heart has been
ripped out of my chest, leaving a hole in my chest. Looking back over those five months as I
write this brings a flood of tears, an ache in my heart that can never be
comforted, and a longing that will never be satisfied. I will never be the same. Chunks of my heart are left in Haiti, Dominican
Republic, Malawi, Mozambique, and the Philippines. If God would have allowed me to go home with
any of those children at any point this past year I would have left in an
instant, no questions asked.
The orphans that I’ve fallen in love with have
loved me for no reason. In the times
that I felt like I couldn’t love them anymore and when I couldn’t give them
anything, they still loved me. I realize
that it sounds backwards, that the story should be the other way around but
their love has changed my life.
I have spent hours upon hours just spending
time, playing and laughing with orphans.
Those orphans have been some of the happiest children that I have met in
my life. They have taught me how to
enjoy the little things and to not take life so seriously. These same children lived in absolute
poverty, many didn’t have toys, and none of them had parents.
Some of the hardest times at orphanages are
during the night. I have spent numerous
nights waking up to a screaming, terrified child. Still, I hear the sound of their cry that pierces
my heart.
On those nights we would pray and battle for
them. It was during those nights that I
could not deny the war that is going on for those babies. Terror, assault, loneliness, abandonment, and
pain were all brought to a head at night.
Some say that at a young age children don’t remember and understand the
world around them. I disagree.
During the night those children knew that they
were abandoned and forgotten. Nothing
could comfort them; no bottle, blanket, rocking, or holding could calm their
fears. Here’s where the amazing
testimony of God comes in.
We would hold those children in our arms a say
to them, “You are loved. You are cherished. You have a great Heavenly Father who adores
and wants you. You are precious. You have a purpose. Jesus loves you and you are adopted into His
Kingdom.� Honestly, within seconds they
would stop crying and fall right to sleep.
Praise be to God! I am not
exaggerating or making any of that up.
Speaking their worth and that they were loved is what comforted them.
Praise God for His love that changes us and
gives us an identity and purpose for life!
Everyone is worthy of love, the orphans deserve love. I plead with you that if you have ever wanted
to adopt that you go for it. There are
so many services that would actually give you money to adopt a child. Or if you don’t have a heart to adopt a child
but still want to play a part, support someone who is trying to adopt.
This is part of my heart that I’ve tried to
share with you for a long time now.
Please take care of this generation, they deserve it.
Who knows maybe you can support me someday when
I get to adopt! 🙂
