Ministry is over here in Colombia and I will be heading to Ecuador in just a couple of days. I want to recap some things that happened this month. I was able to go to Manantiales, a level 0/6 here in Colombia which means that it’s the least safe. We were able to go and share the love of Jesus with these kids. Whether that was through soccer, silly songs, games, a skit, painting their nails, or just loving on them.
Everyone just wants to be loved and just spending time with these children you can see that is what they are searching for. They cling to you, walking down the road with a child holding your hand because they want to. We are sharing with them about a love that will never fade. Someone who will love them unconditionally no matter what.
The last time I went there were to girls, Valerie and Heidi (unfortunately I did not see them the second time I went) and they painted my nails so this time I wanted to be able to do the same with other girls, so I brought nail polish. I never would have guessed that something so small would be so big. I painted so many little fingernails and was able to just smile and laugh with all of the girls. Even when I thought I was done, girls would come over and tell me they wanted me to do theirs too.
The language barrier is real and at times really frustrating because I just want to be able to have a conversation with the children. BUT there is so much more to communication than words and for that I am so thankful because I have learned to value those other ways, to use them to communicate to these children that they are loved, that we just want to spend time with them, love them, and learn new words/phrases and try to understand them even when I don’t speak their language. It sounds so cliche but love is a universal language and we need to love other people and show them that they are loved by God, that they can find their true joy, identity, hope, and salvation, in Him.
I would not consider myself “good” at painting nails and originally wanted someone else to do it because I know I’m not good at it. But where would that have gotten me? Yes even in the small things I want them to be done well, but I am so thankful for the teammate who handed me back the nail polish and said “here you do it”. Because even though I am not the best (which the children pointed out if I missed a spot) I would not trade those special moments for the world. Something that I never would have thought could be important was. Even if it brought a temporary joy, I was able to put smiles on their faces.
This is Marianna, she is 2 years old and let me tell you, she was absolutely precious. She stayed in my arms for awhile and even though we weren’t talking we were smiling and laughing.
Thank you all for helping me get here. For letting me be able to experience all of this. God is so so good. Opening my heart and opening my eyes to His view on people. Showing me that loving someone, no matter where they are at, can form a relationship that will lead them to Him.
