"From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more."
Luke 12:48
I have not been able to get these words out of my head. I went to Haiti two months ago — and God has not allowed me to let these words go ever since. I find myself, almost daily, wrestling with how these very words of Jesus Christ should shape my life.
It was two months ago, that I had the incredible opportunity to serve in Haiti. I spent much of my time at a beautiful orphanage in Leogane (where the epicenter of January 2010's earthquake was). I fell in love with all of the orphans, but God used two stories to shape my life — to forever change me.
Meet Gup. His real name is Luc James, but they call him "Gup".
I got to spend almost every waking moment with Gup while I was in Haiti. To say the least, I completely fell in love with him. Gup, a beautiful three year old Haitian boy, has suffered far more than most of us can fathom. At 18 months old, he was brought to an orphanage, severely malnourished (hence, the nickname "Gup"). He was nursed back to health by an incredible friend of mine. A few months before he turned 3 years old in February, his birth parents decided to take him back. Not long after, he was returned to my friend with cigarette burns covering his innocent body as well as a patch of hair missing.
Gup has a beautiful heart. I learned much from this little boy and as I think about my time with him, I am brought to both tears and laughter.
Now, meet Ella Grace.
Ella was brought to the orphanage only a week before I arrived. She was 17 months old and weighed a mere 11 pounds. Ella was in constant pain and could only eat formula from a syringe. Her severely malnourished body brought her pain and tears. I only spent a few days with her, but her story has changed my life. About a month after I returned home from Haiti, I found out that Ella Grace passed away.
It is stories such as Ella Grace and Gup. Stories such as these, that bring me to my knees knowing that God never intended the suffering that these innocent children have seen.
It is these stories that have called me into God's story. To be His hands and feet among God's people such as Gup and Ella Grace. To serve the oppressed, the hungry, the prostituted and so on.
Long story short, this is why I feel called to be a missionary. To serve the least of these, just as Jesus Christ Himself asks of us. As I write this, I am overwhelmed at the goodness of God paired with the brokenness of His world. I am greatly humbled that He would ask me to serve His people.
My prayer is that Jesus would use me for His work. That I would not work from my own strength, but His alone. I hope that you would come along side me and support me in this crazy adventure. This journey, to become more like Jesus Christ because it is I who have been given much, so, much is required.
