Note: Dave Brown wrote a blog about this same topic. Apparently God is teaching us the same thing right now. You can read it here.
Physical Touch has never been one of my primary love languages. I’m not the first one to give someone a hug and it doesn’t make my day when someone plays with my hair (although it does feel good). Honestly, I never really understood the way touch affects people until last week.
Spectacle and Luminous had the choice between two ministries this month; teaching English at an English Center, and playing with kids at various orphanages. I love getting to know College-age people and playing with kids is not a huge passion of mine, so I obviously chose to volunteer at the English Center. It’s not that I don’t like kids, I just find it hard to know what to do with them when things aren’t structured, which is funny because my team says I’m great with kids, and I have a huge heart for orphans. When Forest (our contact) told us that the orphanage group would be going to an invalid orphanage for kids with mental and physical disabilities, I was glad I chose to teach English. Rewind to Malaysia: We went to an adult handicap center one day and it was the hardest day of ministry on the Race for me. We had to help them brush their teeth and feed them, and I felt like we were being paraded as the “Americans coming in to save the day” and it was difficult for me. I knew I did not want to go back to a place like that this year.
Fast Forward to our last day in the Ukraine: I felt like God was telling me to go to the invalid orphanage for one day. I didn’t know what I would do with these kids who I couldn’t talk to and couldn’t play soccer or dodge ball, but I went out of sheer obedience.We walked into the building, which smelled completely of urine because they only have enough diapers to change the kids once a day. At first we went into a room with girls ages 3-14. Immediately I noticed they all wanted one thing; to be touched. They were climbing all over us, holding our hands, and starving for attention. Then we went down to kids that can’t get out of bed. I was instantly drawn to a little boy who grabbed my hands. He had the cutest laugh and giggled at everything I did. I spent probably 20 minutes just holding his hands and singing over him. It was one of the best and most natural days of ministry for me on the Race…and all I did was touch him.
So many times we think we need to go out and feed and clothe orphans, and while that is sometimes true, we should never underestimate the power of touch. People were healed by Jesus’ touch. It has the ability to make someone feel loved, accepted, and worthy. And no matter how much money we have, we’re all capable of touch.
