“What is my purpose?” I say to myself in a quite voice. “Why has God chosen me to be here?” I find myself asking this every morning when I wake up. I am only here for three weeks; how can I possibly make a difference in this place? I go to these orphanages, and I love on children that seem to have no hope. The orphanage is filthy and smells like urine, the kids have clothes on that look like they haven’t been washed for weeks, and there are babies laying on wooden pallets screaming waiting for someone to come and rescue them from the Hell they have been thrown into. I look around at the horror that surrounds me. I ask God, “Why would you do this to these innocent children? They have done nothing to deserve a life like this!” And God says, “You’re right, they haven’t and I have a bigger and greater plan for them that will come in my perfect timing. Trust me. I am their Father also.” When I stop and think about their situation it’s actually quite good in a lot of ways. These children come from family’s that are probably very poor, therefore had to give them up. The culture here in Cambodia, and in many other third world countries, is that the children are brought up to support their family financially. They are forced at very young ages to bring in money how ever they can. Whether it’s selling jewelry, books, sunglasses, candy, anything you can think of, on the side of the street, or simply just sticking out a tin can and asking for money. Children of families like this are brought up to be quite the sales man. Going back to the children in the orphanage, they don’t have to worry about being the financial provider for sometimes a ten person family unit. They are going to have the choice to make their own living, and be financially independent in a positive way. Another good thing is all the orphan kids come from families of a Buddhist background. Being away from such an influence will allow them to make the choice of Christianity without any repercussions. Buddhism in this culture is very dominating, and going against it will more than likely cause huge damage to your family dynamics. You will probably be disowned and shunned from your family. Not being brought up in a home with a family that forces this religion on them, they get to make the choice freely, and with out fear, to chose Christ.
The children I have spent time with in these past few weeks are so amazing. They have a certain joy about them. If you saw the condition place they live in you would think having joy would be impossible. I beleive that these innocent little children can see the light of Christ even in thier state of living.
Every day I see them I am reminded how it is to have a child like faith.
And this is my purpose.
