The very first moment I met them at the Tagbilaram airport they instantly became my family. The older boys willing and servant heartedly took our big packs and carried them into the jeepney. The girls willingly took our smaller daypacks and was eager to help in anyway possible even if it was hard for them to carry the daypacks that were heavy for them. They were determined to carry them to the jeepney. Our contact Randy, was waiting for us at exit gate going into the parking lot.
New country. New month. New ministry
But I was ready for it.
Even though these kids have been sold by their parents, abused, or any other unsafe environments for kids as young as 7 years old. They have gone through so much in their life and it breaks my heart to pieces to hear the stories of these kids lives. Even through that they love so so easily that they have faced. They love so easily. It’s hard to not love them so my mind can’t really wrap around the things they have gone through by what people have done to them.
These kids are chosen, adopted through Christ when their biological family abused the blessing of loving these kids how The Lord intended families to love each other.
One of my most favorite times of the day is when all the kids yell worship songs on the jeepney drive home from school so that the entire Bohol area will hear about The Lord. They are a light in this dark area.
Throughout my stay I got to build strong relationships with the people that I was with. I got to talk to the girls about “inner beauty” because they were asking why I had short hair and I explained to them about how I shaved my head month 2.
For days I dreaded the day I had to say goodbye. Leading up to that day I cried, I laughed remembering moments from this month, I cried some more.
That dreadful day came too quickly, a party was held for the graduating students, a birthday party and a going away party for us. I held every once of tears inside me so that the children would not see me for the last time like that. Even though I did shed a few tears that night, I successfully held myself together with all of my emotions flooding my mind; the sadness of leaving and not being there for my kids graduation was so devastating and the look on the kids faces was heartbreaking when I told them I wasn’t going to be there. I felt like a bad mom who won’t be their for their child’s graduation.
The party that was held at Arms of love with my Filipino family it wasn’t a final party but rather than just a pre-party from the huge party that we will all have in Heaven with Jesus and the reunion party when I return next year Lord willing. During the party I successfully held my tears together because I didn’t want the kids to see me crying and that would have been the last thing they would see of it before heading out. It was all smiley faces and having fun on our last day.
These kids mean the world to me.
I can not wait for the moment that I am reunited with them all and give them a big bear hug.
