Traditionally tough love
means telling someone you love something difficult that they may not want to
hear. The World Race has changed my definition of tough love. It is tough to
love kids who throw rocks at you, spit in the open windows (which do not lock),
pee on the roof, and jump on the tin roof of the bathroom until it breaks
through so that we have a sky light. It is tough to love some of these kids in
Arroyo Cano; however, there is no doubt in team Manna’s minds that we were
brought here to love these kids. You see, we came to Arroyo Cano during an
annual Catholic festival where the parents go and drink at night and sleep
during the day. All these kids want is attention. They constantly yell “mirar”
which is the verb “to look” It is very hard to spend time with them though
because I can’t understand what they are saying and don’t know what to play
because I can’t explain anything to them. While I find it hard to do anything
with them, God is showing me that I must love them because in 1 John 4 we are
told that if we do not love them we do not know God because God is love and I
know God therefore I must love them. So I go out and sit and just watch them
and smile. This has started to process of getting me to the end of myself
because there is no way I can love these kids with my own power, it is only
with Christ that I can show His love.
