Two little boys who are cousins come to the center every week. They come with only a shirt on their back and naked little baby bottoms. They are full of joy, innocence, curiosity, and love.
The older of the two, Zeke* who is 3, loves to dance. It doesn’t matter what he is doing, if the song “Gangnam Style” plays he stops what he is doing and starts dancing. It is the cutest. He loves to run around and has a desire to be like the older boys. He follows them and copies whatever they do. He has the cutest smile and when he runs his mouth is wide open full of excitement!
The younger of the two, Judah* who is 1, loves baths. He will sit in the bath pan and splash water on himself and doesn’t want to get out. He loves to cuddle, but he also likes following the big kids also. It is the cutest when he waves and blows kisses.
After a full day at the center the kids pile into the truck and the ministry director drives them back to their homes. I had the opportunity to accompany them. I was able to see the living conditions of each kid. Some live in villages, and Zeke and Judah live in an abandoned train station. In the middle of the train station is a huge puddle of black, infected water. The station floods during the rainy season, which is in full swing now. There are flies everywhere and they sleep on wood boards.
My heart broke.
They have nothing. They have only the clothes that they come to the center in. No shoes. Covered in dirt.
The kids are given baths each morning when they arrive because they are so filthy from the night before. And we feed them breakfast and lunch. Judah and Zeke are malnourished. Their stomachs are enlarged while the rest of their bodies are small. When breakfast is ready Judah pats his chest, points at the food, and makes little grunt sounds to indicate he is hungry and wants to eat. And he drinks a lot of water throughout the day which makes me think he doesn’t get much of that either.
They are the cutest little boys. They need love and to be cared for properly and the staff at the center are here to do that for them. They are being Jesus to the least of these. To these children who don’t have a choice how they live.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
There is another little boy, Luke*, who comes as cranky as ever. He is mischievous, hits people, and throws tantrums. When I heard where he comes from and what he does at night and it made so much sense. At night he is a beggar for his parents who then use the money to gamble. This is on-going and occurs each night. Luke doesn’t get to sleep until about 2 in the morning. He is just a little kid! He is 5 years old! When he gets to us he is tired. During naptime in the afternoon he is always the first one to fall asleep and the last one to wake up. Poor little guy. He is living a life he did not chose for himself.
These kids come from families who do not treat them the way children should be treated. Who do not love them or pay attention to them or play with them. They are living in a harsh reality. It breaks my heart and it breaks God’s heart even more. However, God is a god of love and loves these kids and their families unconditionally. Despite how they act, what they do, God still loves them. He cares for them and puts people like the people on the staff here at Crossing Cambodia to give them the love and the care they need. God uses us if we let him. God will use us for a miracle and to change people’s lives. The staff are here working behind the scenes of a miracle. They do not know the impact they are making in these children’s lives. These street kids will forever be changed because they have been given an opportunity to live a better life. To meet a Jesus that can change their lives forever!
“People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:15-17
Do you know that Jesus? The Jesus that can change your life forever? What has he given you? A roof over your head? A warm shower? A bed? Cloths that fill up a closet? Thank him. He has blessed you and he deserves the praise. He loves you.
Jesus has changed my life forever. There is no turning back. He has filled me with his spirit, with a supernatural joy, he has given me a loving and supportive family, a comfortable home to come back to after the race. I have more belongings I am carrying with me for these 11 months than these children have for their life. Thank you Jesus for all that you have given me.
Thank you Jesus for your many blessings. Thank you for filling me up and never letting me run dry. Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for your patience, grace, and continuous love. I love you and I want to live my life for you. I say YES to you! I will follow you forever! You have changed my life and I am never turning back!
*names have been changed
