Two hours away yet so far. We are in Beijing for debriefing, but due to the holiday, we were unable to go visit NewDay. Many of you know my heart for this incredible orphanage and the children there. Our day off, the day I had expected to go to NewDay, became a tourist. I joined in the festivities, visiting Tiennemen, the Forbidden City the Olympic Circle, even though I had already been. I just wanted to spend time with the squad.
As we traveled to the square I found my heart very saddened. The last time I was at Tiennemen I felt the same way, because of all that had happened there, but I at least wanted to take photos. I didn’t even want to look at my camera at that moment. I stood watching my friends taking pictures of the sites and tried to place this emotion.
Then it hit me. My babies at NewDay, whether I knew all their names or had seen all of their faces, hold a very dear place in my heart. While I was joyed to be part of a very different kind of ministry in China this month, and tried to stay focused on each day and each person we met, I was holding on to that chance to see my babies. When I realized it wasn’t going to happen I internalized it a bit more than I expected. I prayed to God, asking him to give me understanding.
We continued to walk around. We crossed the street and began a walk down the tree-lined pathway towards the Forbidden City. People were surrounding us. The holiday had brought an unusually large crowd to this historical site, and we were made aware of it every passing second. In the corner of my eye, near to the ground, I saw an unusual movement. I turned my gaze from my squadmates who were navigating the crowd, to the movement. Attached to the spinning circle was a small hand; upon the hand was the sleeve of a bright pink jacket, that lead to the face of a smiling young girl. She had made eye contact with the stragne mae-guo-ren. As she worked to keep up with her dad and brother, navigating with more ease than the Mae-guo-ren on their feet, she rolled through the crowd looking over at us as we looked back at her; both with joyful smiles and random waves. They crossed through the trees and were beside us. Kristin helped the little girl wheel through the crowd and keep up with her father. She didn’t say a word. She simply lifted her hands from the wheels a few inches, and continued to smile. Her father looked back, gave us a second glance and smiled. He looked forward and continued to push his son through the crowd.
We neared the end of the tree line where we would have to cross under the streets and the chaos of people. We asked the girl her name, and through the chaos of the crowd I heard a faint “Wo Ai De” meaning “my love”. We stopped, the other girls took some pictures of the family, and we began to walk away.
I took three steps, eight steps, 10 steps….”Wo Ai De”…I stopped! I asked someone to go back with me. I needed a picture of this family. I, as best I could, thank the father over and over, and told his daughter and son that they were beautiful! We said goodbyes.
“Wo Ai De”… my love. God knew my heart. He knew my loves for the kids at NewDay. For their special needs, both physically and in family. Through a son, daughter and their father, he reminded me that he provides for his Children. That throughout this world I will encounter children who need his love, and while the children at New Day are dear to my heart, all children are dear to his heart. He was drawing me closer to him, closer to his children, and closer to his heart for his children. Encountering “my love” he said, is giving my love.
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Are you seeking out a better understanding of the heart of Christ?
What is he showing you?
