It’s hard to believe it has already been a month of the race. My team and I found out that we will be switching ministries after month 1 debrief, it came with a lot of bittersweet emotions. Though our time at Lifting Hands was short, I think we all learned a lot and were impacted by the people we met in that time.
One of the things I learned at Lifting Hands is that when you show up, people notice. Being honest, some days our roles at the ministry almost seemed unnecessary. It never really felt like we pulled any sort of huge weight at the ministry. If we weren’t there, the ministry could definitely run fine. Our role was to simply just be there with the kids and have fun with them. It didn’t seem like anything special at first. The longer we were there, the more I realized that I really have no idea what these kids’ lifes look like outside of the 4 hours a day they spend at Lifting Hands. The area of ‘Los Anonos’ was declared uninhabitable by the government some time ago due to the high rain levels that cause houses to collapse down the mountain. People still live there because they simply have too. Looking out the front porch of the ministry and seeing the houses that are unsturdy and could collapse with the next rainfall is something that I can’t comprehend. I really don’t get these kids. How could I? I never had to worry about if my house would be standing the next day growing up. I honestly can’t imagine what that would be like. Just another reminder that I do have a mindset of entitlement. Yet, these kids come everyday. And the energy and heart they bring day after day is something I again don’t understand. I started to realize that this might be one of the only times that these kids can simply enjoy their childhood.
One kid that I happened to befriend was named Christopher. Christopher came up to me one day, smiled, hit my leg and said “ANDA”. He ran away laughing and turning back every few moments to make sure he still had my attention. I played tag with Christopher for an hour a half that day. I was tired after 10 minutes, but Christopher was so persistant that I continued to play. At one point I was sitting on a bench and I said “No mas anda!” as he pulled me off the bench and started to drag me across the ground. Everyday without fail after that, Christopher would walk up to me and say “Kat! Anda!” as soon as he arrived at lifting hands. As I spent the afternoons chasing after Christopher we started to form some kind of friendship. He knew I didn’t speak spanish yet he would just ramble on and on. I never really knew what to say. Sometimes I said “Christopher, no se.” And sometimes I would just not say anything. It didn’t seem to bother Christopher though. Because he knew that I was his friend. Eventually, he didn’t even want to play tag anymore and he would just want me to sit with him as he played with blocks.
My role was not big at Lifting Hands. It was simply to show up. I made friends with the kids even when our conversations usually don’t go much past “Como Estas?” Jesus is showing me what it looks like to do His work. I don’t think God expects us to individually change the world, neither do I believe that I’m going to change the world. I think he does expect us to do His work, one small task at a time. Simply putting others before ourselves, to bless them. I think that Jesus just wants us to show the people we encounter what His love looked like, in whatever sort of humanly flawed way we can. And it’s something that we have to choose. It’s not in my nature to play a game of tag with a kid I can’t even communicate with for hours on end each day. Somehow though, I find myself doing it day after day. Because I don’t know what Christopher’s life looks like outside of Lifting Hands. And if I can contribute to some of his joy by simply chasing him around, then I will do it. Because Jesus wants us all to experience joy. If Jesus wants me to serve His kingdom by sitting at a table and watching Christopher play with blocks, then I’ll do it.
Fundraising Update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am about $3000 away from being fully funded! I am truly thankful for anyone that has given in any sort of way. I would not be here if it wasn’t for you all! I am learning so much about the Lord and His character for His people all over the world. If you feel any sort of call to donate, please do so! No amount is too big or too small. Thank you so much for all the support, I could not do it without you all!
Loveeee, kat <3
