Ever since Junior high, my go to doodle is an elephant butt. I’m not really sure how this got started, but it does kind of sum up my personality in a way -quirky, silly, and BIG. I love how it’s randomness never ceases to make someone smile. I never thought that this odd scribble would have a purpose on this grand adventure we called the World Race, but I’m glad it did.
It started with the simple task of making Valentines cards for the youth of the church we were working with (Savage Ministries). I love to do things like this; so, a simple written “Happy Valentines Day” just wouldn’t work for me. I viewed this blank piece of paper as a challenge but also a happy release of creativity the past month and a half had been lacking. Naturally, I drew an elephant butt on the front of the card, but in the spirit of Valentines Day, I added a Mrs. Elephant Butt complete with a bow and kissing trunks.
Here you can see my oh so beautiful artwork. 😉
The youth event for Valentines Day came and went, and I didn’t give any particular thought to whatever happened with my card until it was brought up a few days later with our ministry host, Joel. It turns out that a high schooler nicknamed “Margarita” received my card LOVED it. Joel explained to me that Margarita has a disability and gets made fun of a lot. She had never received a card from anyone before, and she thought that the elephant butts were hilarious. It was something that she understood so well. Apparently she liked it so much, she said she was going to take it home and hang it on her wall!
Margarita wasn’t the only one who liked the butts; Joel and his wife, Maria, were fans as well. So when it came time to paint one the classrooms with a jungle theme, I had the honor of painting a great, big elephant butt family on one of the walls.
Through all of this, I learned that God uses us sometimes in ways that we least expect it. If I had just made a typical Valentines card, I would’ve missed the opportunity to touch this girl’s life. This is an encouragement to me to give 100% in every task, the small and the big, and to allow God to work through my randomness -like that of an elephant butt card.
I left my mark on Peru the size of an elephant butt. 🙂
