If you know me, you know that I don’t like big groups of
children. I used to think that I didn’t like children at all; I don’t think
that was ever the case. (Yes, I do think they can be annoying ha) but I like
children in small numbers and I like caring for children primarily. I don’t
know how to or like to entertain them but I’ll hold them and love on them all
day long.
Here at La Quinta they have a pre-school that happens daily.
Once a week my team helps out with pre-school, entertaining the children with
silly games and loving on them. All of the kids are cute and need love but
there are two girls in particular that have captured that hearts of my
teammates and I this month, Anna Velki and Jema. They are cousins and we met
their family the first week we were here on our home visits tour. They come
from a very poor family and there doesn’t seem to be any father figures in the
picture. They come from a line of women who have never been told that God loves
them, that have never been told that they are valued and loved by the one true
God and that they don’t have to go seeking value and love from anywhere else.
Jema mother, Raquel, is 16 years old. She accepted Christ at her home when we
visited her. We are praying that this acceptance of Christ is something that is
truly taking root in her heart and that she is truly coming to know who she is
in Christ. (The exciting part is that soon Raquel and her children are going to
start living at La Quinta.) God sees this family and is pursing them with his
big ole Father heart! He is a great Papa!
This family’s situation is heart breaking and every time I
see these two little beautiful girls I want to hold them and never let them go.
This morning I sat beside Jema as she ate her breakfast and after she was done
she climbed up into my lap, I nuzzled her head into my arms and we didn’t move
for a while. As all the other children went outside to the playground, she just
stayed sitting in my arms. I just held her and prayed over her for a long time.
Eventually she did want to go outside to swing and she started laughing and
having a good time.
Jema and Anna Velki, even though they are small and don’t
say much, seem to always have so much on their minds. All this to say that it’s
the things that seem small that really make a difference in someone’s life.
This little girl just wants a safe place to lay her head and even though I
could only provide that for 30 minutes, I’m trusting that God sees her and is
in the process of providing that for her for eternity!
(I have pictures of these beautiful little girls but cannot post them yet. I will try to post them soon.)
**It’s time to travel once again. At 5 AM tomorrow morning we’ll be traveling twelve hours to El Salvador! Please keep my squad in your prayers as we travel and as we continuing going strong throughout our last two months! Thanks SO much!
