As all of you most likely know, I spent 2 weeks in Kenya tending to some of my responsibilites. When I was on the Race in 2008 I ran into a situation that changed my life. A teammate of mine came running up to me saying, "The street-kid with the purple shirt just cut his hand, he needs help." I found it odd that he searched for me to handle the situation considering I had no medical background and another one of our teammates was a nurse. Nevertheless, I handled the situation.
As I cleaned Allan's wound, the Lord spoke to me clearly and asked me to take him off the street. That would have been fine if I had a home for him, but I didn't. I had to make a decision…move by faith, or ignore the voice swarming around in my head.
I decided to take Allan off the street which turned out to be the hardest, most serious and faithful thing I ever did and it continues to be today. Little did I know at that time, but this act of faith launched me into what I have always been called to do–rescue abandonded children, rehibilitate them and teach them how to be sons and daughters.
When a human life is born they are chock-full of value, worth and capability. Throughout the child's life everything and it's mama tries to come against this gold inside of them by destorying what was freely given to him/her. Sometimes the child is lucky and they have good parents/mentors to help steward and cultivate this worth Realistically there is no perfect parent so the child has to make conscious decisions to believe in their value even when everything around them screams otherwise. In order to spend all the inheritence they have been given, they need to know they are sons and daughters of God rather than an orphan who begs.
On my trip to Kenya I spent ho
urs on the streets sitting with glue-sniffing street kids, asking a bazillion questions about the details of their lives. When you do this sort of thing it is important that you arm yourself with one magical thing…food. If you want anything from these children they will expect something in return and if you don't give them anything they may get violent. As you take a piece of bread out of your pocket the children willl start to grab at you and out of nowhere more children will come to snatch a portion. They will all fight to get the last crumb.
In contrast I spent even more hours at the Challenge Farm where my son Allan is and about 100 other kids are in the
transition of going from orphan to sons and daughters. One day we baked them something that they hardly ever get–pan after pan of chocolate cake. As I set that chocolaty goodness in front of them nobody frantically grabbed for the cake. All 100 children waited patiently with big white smiles for their portion, and it was like God kept multiplying the cake because each child ended up with 3 pieces.
So often we as Christians move out of an orphan spirit. We beg for crumbs when we are actually invited to sit at the table with a feast of food waiting for us to gobble up. We make a rucus at the outer courts of the kings palace, shouting loudy to defend our rights and begg for our needs to be provided for when in actuality we are supposed to reside in the innermost parts of palace where the King can hear our request in a voice no louder than a whisper.
To be loved so unconditionally by God–whether I have performed well or not. To sit in his tanglible presence, so thick with mercy and love and to know that I am an Esther–a once orphaned child who turned into a bride that was given a people to save. Which Spirit are you operating out of? Are you an orphan, or are you a son or daughter?
Just a few fun pictures….
Fun day with Allan and another girl, Susan from the Farm. Can we just say…flippn' scary! So…"Mike" the Rhino behind us is like…right behind us. Those wires were pretty much useless. And can I just say what a handsome son I have. Might be a little bias…but dang he is a good lookn' kid!
One of my kiddos who lives on the street. He sleeps outside of a grocery store and uses an old potato sack to keep warm. It's quite cold at night.
Where's Marisa….Oh' my chilrens….most of these kids will probably never make it off the streets…that is unless you go and make a way for them!
