God used children to get me to go on my first mission trip when I was 15. I love kids. I love playing with them and taking care of them. I want each and every child on this earth to be well cared for and know that they are loved. I’m always happy to get to work with young children and I’m over the moon every time I get to hold a baby. Well, last Sunday I got to hold a baby at church while meeting the congregation. Yesterday I got to spend a couple hours playing with a pair of 3 year-olds. Then, today I got to hold a 1 month old, itty-bitty baby in the most unexpected place, a prison.
Most of my race thus far has involved working with kids in a classroom setting, but this month we get to do more than just that. Yesterday my team had the chance to volunteer at a home for women and girls who have been sexually abused. This home is a safe place where the girls’ psychological, physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs are met. Late in the afternoon yesterday, after a rough van ride followed by a smoother pick-up truck ride, we arrived at this home out in the country, surrounded by crops, cows, and chickens.
The staff welcomed us, gave us a tour, and told us about their ministry. We then asked how we could bless the girls living in the home. “Just spend time with them” we were told. “Do you play volleyball? They’d love to play with you.”
Ok then, an afternoon of volleyball it would be. While I have some wonderful, athletic teammates, I am not good at volleyball. However, volleyball was our ministry for the afternoon, a way we could show these girls they were loved and valued, so volleyball I would (attempt) to play.
After about half an hour of volleyball, more girls from the home ventured out to the court and wanted to play, so I took that opportunity to step out of the game and do something different.
Several teenage mothers live at this home, and two of their children, a pair of three year olds, were playing near the volleyball court. Once I was released from the volleyball game I went over to the kids to see what they were playing. Immediately they both started talking to me (in Spanish, so I only caught about half of what they said) and showing me around their home!
We played on the playground. I pushed them on the swings and all three of us went down the slide together. The kids showed me the vegetable garden. They picked clover and handed it to me, saying it was “for the kitchen”. They pretended to drive a motorcycle. They were eager to show me everything, I loved it!
The time for me to leave came sooner than I expected, so I hugged both kids good-bye, told them “ciao” and left. I went home praying for these children, and thanking God for giving me such a wonderful afternoon. It reminded me of home, and the kids I nannied. My prayer for these two children, and all the others at the home, is that they will grow up knowing they are loved by an amazing heavenly Father and that God will supply them and their mothers with safe homes once their time at this safe house is up.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
~Matthew 19:14
Then today, we got to do prison ministry, but that’s a whole ‘nother story that I’ll tell you later this week!
