This month is something really special. From the moment I heard about our ministry at Agape Home, a home for children with HIV and AIDS, I knew it would be filled with such joy and heartbreak.
We spend most of the day making jump ropes for Samaritan’s Purse. Hundreds and hundreds and thousands of jump ropes. Literally. We have to make 15,000. When I first heard that that was our ministry, I was a little frustrated. We’re at an orphanage with so many kids, and we’re making jump ropes. But I’m learning a lot about intentionality and a lot about my teammates and squadmates, as we have six hours daily filled with the most interesting and fascinating conversations, along with sing-a-longs.
The Lord definitely knew I needed a baby fix, so He gave us the nursery, where I spend a couple hours every afternoon with the sweet babies. I have a sweet baby that I always gravitate towards, his giggles are my favorite. Every day, I end up putting him to sleep, but I’m learning not to until 30 minutes before I leave, so I don’t have to put him down. Such a sweet time where us girls drool over the overwhelming cuteness in such a tiny room and talk about baby reunions when we’re older.
Some afternoons, we swim with the preschool kids in their pool. Those kids are fish, I swear. This little girl, who I have yet to learn her name, always starts giggling the moment she sees me, and spends the afternoon jumping off the side into my arms and running away from me, screeching to get my attention the moment I don’t follow her. The other day, some of the older kids swam with us too, and my new friend latched onto me and made me swim her around, because she didn’t know how. I definitely struggled a bit, but she thought it was hilarious.
The last week spent in my first month of Thailand, I was praying that the Lord would break my heart for what breaks His. He definitely did just that in Myanmar, so I continued to pray for His heart when I heard of our ministry here. It’s definitely been hard, knowing and feeling the Lords heartbreak for these children, but also the most amazing thing, as I’m learning to love these children and see them exactly as He does.
He doesn’t see them as sick. He doesn’t see them as their disease. There’s no HIV in the Kingdom, it’s not welcome there. The Lord looks at those children with the biggest smile. He sees their joy, their hope, their love. He sees them as sons and daughters. It’s been the most humbling experience, and it’s really been a joy.
