T A K I N G T H I N G S F O R G R A N T E D
Growing up, somedays school seemed more like a chore and forced activity than an opportunity and a right that I had. I took school for granted, and I felt it was something required of me. I remember one day I faked being sick so I could stay home because I didn’t feel like learning that day or doing work. Why? Why do I take things for granted knowing that if I want to, I can go back to school and have opportunities to choose what I want to do as a career? My chances of choosing what I do in life is in my hands, so why isn’t it in everyone else’s? Why cant everyone have the choice to pursue their dreams?
B R O K E N N E S S F R O M H U M A N I T Y
One of the ministries here in Peru, Elim, is at a garbage dump. These kids and teens are living among the thick smoke and garbage piles, walking a ways to come hear a bible lesson or get tutoring help. The program supports a couple of kids to go to school to give them education. This one girl, whom we heard a bit of her story really stuck with me. She was close to the top of her class and was excelling in school. The leaders at Elim thought that she was the one who was going to really benefit from the education they could provide and use it wisely. However, her circumstances at home slowly got worse and it required her to stay at home more than she was able to go to school. Through this she was falling behind in her school work and slowly she started to lose her hope of finishing school.
M Y B R O K E N H E A R T.
This isn’t the first and only case that has happened here. Many children and teens are not able to go or finish an education because of the broken family’s living style, perspective and loss of hope. This is the reality for so many kids all around the world. In this case, these circumstances took her hope away. There is so much brokenness in this world that may seem tiny or insignificant, but to a little girl or guy, it could affect their whole life.
R E S T O R A T I O N
Through all this brokenness created from humanity and earthly things there is hope that comes solely from the Lord. In romans 8:18 it says “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” This verse highlights how our present day sufferings are not worth being compared to the glory and hope that is to come for us in heaven. Regardless of her sufferings, and all the other kids, they get to go to Elim and learn about the eternal love and hope from the Lord. This program is a true light from God in the middle of the garbage dump to reach the kids who have lost hope. These kids and this ministry will forever impact me and it has shifted my perspective on how much we take the simple things in life for granted.
M Y P A S S I O N
This experience has grown a passion in me to want to not only be able to teach kids and teens about God’s everlasting love and hope, but to also teach them life skills and knowledge. I want to equip them with life lesson so that they would be able to think and make decisions for themselves. To give them hope for a future here on earth and that we don’t just have to wait for the Lord’s goodness in heaven, but that we can bring heaven down to earth. To allow kids to get the opportunity to have a choice in what they do when they grow up. To let them dream. To show them the Lords love. But most importantly to allow them to be kids and be joyful in the mist of the brokenness around them.
