I've seen God a lot since I've been here.
My first day of ministry outside of the our home was at an elder home.
When me and 3 others got to the home we immediately helped move the elders into a different building so the elder home can be fumigated.
I walked around this new building filled with different elders, one sweet lady in particular stood out to me,
she was sitting in a plastic chair with her blanket covering her face from the sun with
her walker next to her.
She was stuck there.
I went behind her and pulled her chair back into the shade, she jumped a little as i moved her.
I knelt down in front of her and uncovered her blanket from her face- her eyes we're light blue and watery- they were sensitive to light.
I grabbed for her hand and she stared at me almost in disbelief that I was noticing her.
"como tu nombre?" I asked.
She stared at me shyly and spoke softly under her breath "Elissia"
"me nombre andrea" I told her as I held her hand tighter, smiling.
She let out a little smile and began share stories with me.
I sat at her feet listening, staring intently into her eyes.
As she talked, i prayed for the Holy Spirit to tell me what she's saying.
he did, not specifics, but he gave me the general idea of what she was talking about.
She spoke about the trials in her life, her family, her kids, and about God.
I laughed when she laughed.
I was tearful with had tears in her eyes.
soon, it was no longer me holding her hand, but she was holding mine.
She talked to me for 2 hours not letting go of my attention or hand.
Language has no barrier when it comes to Love.
I saw God in her that day.
The next day we went to the special needs hospital.
In the morning we did child care that was right next to it.
I've done this as a job before. I thought, this will be no problem at all.
I walked into the 6 year old room and they greeted me with smiles half way up their cheeks.
"HOLAAAA" They screamed.
I introduced myself.
They immediately lavished me with attention.
I sat with a few as they colored their pictures complimenting them as i played with their hair and scratched their backs, they smiled at me and hugged my neck.
I helped a few color and had conversations with them.
Many asked what things were in english and I asked what they were in spanish.
we learned from each other.
I told them they were beautiful and special.
They held my hand and jumped on me every time I walked.
some held onto my legs as I walked and I pretended to shake them off.
At one point I had two children on each legs and holding another.
One asked me to peel open an orange for her and when I was done she offered half to me.
I kindly declined but was so grateful for her generosity.
She then grabbed my hand and took me outside and wanted me sit with her as the others played on the play ground. we exchanged smiles to each other.
No words needed to be said.
We had the presence of the Lord.
One little boy began playing tag with me.
We chased each other, laughing and I felt like a kid again.
It was time to go and they all ran to me and hugged me so tightly asking me to come back.
They made me feel so welcome.
I saw God in them that morning,
the way they lavished me with attention and love I was reminded that He pursues me like that…
but even harder.
As we walked through the doors of the special needs center my heart instantly broke.
The room was full of children, teenagers, adults with needs of all kinds.
I walked around the room blessing each child in Jesus' name, staring at them and telling them they were beautiful.
I sat down with a few and tried to make eye contact with them asking them what their name was.
they never responded, but i figured they needed some kind of voice.
It was time to feed them and I took a bowl of porridge and walked to the child they wanted me to feed.
As I fed her I spoke words of love over her.
you're beautifully and wonderfully made- Jesus died for you, Jesus loves you.
After every bite she took I told her of His love for her.
She would smile every now and then.
I saw God through her smile.
After we finished eating them I took a walk outside.
I saw a little girl laying on an orange mat motionless.
I sat in front of her and began playing with her hair.
She looked up at me a few times and smiled, her smile was beautiful.
I began to softly sing "How he loves" to her, because I wanted her to hear of the Lords love for her.
She then grabbed for my hand and held it.
Every now and then she would let out a scream, but every time I would touch the strands of her hair and sing, she would stop and stare at me.
Her eyes told a story, it was a beautiful story and I would get lost in them.
I saw God in her that afternoon- as she laid relaxed in my hands He reminded me to quietly rest in His.
He's in the face of the elderly and widowed.
He's in the face of children.
He's in the face of the special needs child.
He's everywhere, you just need to open your eyes and see.
