Month 5 day 4 in India was my day of brokeness on the World Race.
As I walk up to this small home called the Jireah orphanage we were told there would be about 10 kids. I was excited and prepared with my balloon animals. At first site I saw a small child running with a superman outfit on so I knew he would be my favorite. His name was Sanderson and he is the child of the owner of the ministry. As we were playing I decided to start making my animals. We started forming into different groups to play games. As I was walking around I noticed four small children who were peeking around the corner. I had no idea where they came from. As I walk over to them they ran. I continued to play with the balloon animals and the children at the children's home. I then thought to give it another try with my four onlookers I had. I walk around the house and run up on a construction site. I thought this is where they came from and they did. There I found the children and they look to be ages 4,5,6 and 7. I found them helping out at the construction site. My mouth dropped as these children where holding buckets of water and medal poles in their hands. Beside this site was a small home that reminded me of a baseball dugout. I started to make balloons and they ran over. As I made one ballon a child would grab it and run home. By the time I made another one the child was back and wanted more. I probably made about 4 balloons per child before I decided to wind up this game they were playing with me. I walked over to the site closer and the adults looked afraid and the children looked like they were in trouble. I slowly walked back to the orphanage and prayed for them. All the kids at the home were told to go inside and we taught them some songs. By the end of song number 4 I peek outside to find my 4 little onlookers were back to watch us. As I walk up to them the 2 smallest ones ran again.
As I talk with the six year old girl ,without her knowing what I am saying because of the language barrier, I tell her how much God loves her and how beautiful she is. Another teammate and myself decided we wanted to get closer to the home so I gave the girl my bracelet and she wanted us to come with her to her home. She was proud of it she looked like. We walk up closer to see there are now 3 elderly, 3 adults and the 4 small children. Sitting on concrete and cleaning dishes. It appears as if they just ate. I look inside the dugout and see rice bags, some clothes, concrete blocks and a ton of red dirt.
The grandfather was able to talk with me for a little while. He told me who everyone was and that they all lived in this dugout. WHAT?!! It is 1/3 the size of my bedroom back at home. Where do you sleep? I asked. He said on the red dirt. They lay their heads on the rice bags and cover up with a few blankets. In this home is a grandmother, 2 elderly men, a aunt, mom, dad and the four small children. What struck me was I've seen this on TV and some while being on the race but there was something about this dugout. Something about this dugout that they called a home. They have lived here for almost 3 years. They did not work until a construction site came up next door them. The dad had odd jobs he would take to have money for the family. They had nothing. I mean nothing. What you read above was everything they owned. To me they had nothing. To them they have something. A roof, some blankets, rice bags for sleeping, dishes and some clothes. I look towards the children while I was talking to the grandfather and by this time the animals had unformed themselves and the balloons were now long with dents in them from being twisted. These kids had never seen a balloon animal before. They were so happy, using their imagination and content. By this time my team mate and I were there about 45 minutes. We had to leave now because it was getting dark and the rest of my team was walking home. As we walk back "home", where we are staying I broke down. I have a 50 pound bag on the race that has more "things" in it than a 10 member family has in their dugout home. UNBELIEVABLE!!
This is not fair!! Why do they have to live like that God? As 100s of homes like theirs are in this community around them I think about my entitlement to "things". I do not have one. By the grace and blessings from God I am provided with everything I need and most things I want. This was just the reality check that I needed. "Things" do not make a person. They do not make people more entitled to things rather than someone else. If we do not have Jesus we have nothing. You can have everything you want and need but if you do not have Jesus then you have NOTHING. If you have no "things" but you have Jesus you have EVERYTHING. Seriously.
I could loose my 50 pound back and have everything I need. It just took this situation for me to realize.
