It was no ordinary day when I awoke to the sounds of my alarm. The consistent screams of the alarm as I slowly opened my eyes. But wait it’s a Saturday, I get to sleep in on Saturdays? Wait. I’m not at home I’m on the World Race in Chile. Many thoughts ran through my mind about these past three weeks and the past year of preparation. The night before had been a late night full of Spanish songs and dancing in circles with a Chilean family that I feel like I’ve known forever. As I stumbled into the car ready for another day, ready for another day of ministry. But it was no ordinary day. Little did I know that the Lord had big plans for the day ahead.
As my team, Pastor David and I traveled an hour and a half north, every second the tall buildings and hustling people of Santiago got further and further away. The mountains got closer and were in view until the mountains were surrounding the car. The rolling hills and the vastness of their presence were like nothing I have ever experienced before. With each second that passed the closer God’s creation came into view, the closer the little town of Til-Til was.
Once I was in Til-Til I realized the how big our World was, how many people lived in it, and how much love needs to be spread. The minute the volunteer told us about the amount of hurt there was in the town, the neglect and the lack of love is when I realized why my team was there. To love and to laugh and to encourage and to bring freedom. Just like Jesus did everyday of his life.
The children’s voices got closer as my team, the volunteers and I sat in a circle prepared for the day ahead, prepared to let God work, prepared to share the love of Christ with the children. One by one the children and teenagers walked in. I was sitting facing the door watching them come in and sit down. Some more hesitant than others, some running in with pure joy in their eyes and others walking in with timid looks on their faces. Then this girl about twelve walked in, and I knew that she was hurting. I saw the pain on her face, the longing to be loved, the longing for Jesus to work in her. I got up from my chair as we split into groups and pulled out a chair for her to sit down, as I sat down right next to her. The two of us made conversation as I talked to her in Spanish and watched her react with her voice low and avoiding eye contact.
As the day continued, I learned her name and a lot about her with a small amount of words. Her name is Arrena. She is a beautiful creation from our Lord, her eyes make you want to cry because they are the deepest of browns, with long black hair running down her back. Her skin is of the most golden brown, with freckles on her sun-kissed skin. When she looked at me I felt as if she was searching my heart.
After my team taught the children a bible story, played games with them and shared laughter with the children, it was time to go. Arrena was the last one there, running up behind me, as she tapped me on the shoulder. I looked down and she waved goodbye, I said bye and waved, but then the words “You are beautiful” came tumbling out with the small amount of Spanish I knew. As she looked at me her eyes lit up and then she put her head down nodding her head in disagreement, so I got down on her level and said it again and again and again. Then I hugged her for a few more seconds than a normal hug, I felt the arms of Jesus in that moment.
As I looked up my other teammate was there to hug her too, and the three of us huddled in a circle to pray for this beautiful daughter of God. We hugged again and walked away as she stood there not wanting to leave, then I turned around and she was running the other way. I saw the back of her long beautiful hair swaying in the wind as I thought…
Wow Jesus she is your daughter and you love her. Please take care of her.
This moment was a turning point in my view of Jesus, he makes his sons and daughters “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Not only is she beautiful but so is every single one of his children, I realized in this moment that his love is greater than I can know. He thinks his children are beautiful inside and out, not just because of their appearance but because of their hearts. Even though we are broken and filthy, God loves us and thinks we are beautiful. As we drove away I teared up because I missed her already, I wish I could have sat with her all day or spent more time with her. Although that would’ve been ideal this is not the point, I don’t get to see everything that God does, I don’t get to chose how people’s lives turn out, I don’t get to help everyone, I don’t get to fix anything.
I do get to chose to live my life in relationship with Jesus, I get to be a servant of his Love and Trust that he will work in ways that I cannot.
Arrena is beautiful, I am beautiful, and so are every single one of Gods children including you!
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” -Psalm 139:14
