A Boy Named Blood
Walking along the dark streets of the city looking down at the box of Valentine’s Day chocolate I was holding, I had no idea what to expect for the night.
It was February 14th and I wanted nothing more than to love. To love the forgotten, the abandoned, the rejected, the lonely, the unloved. To love the street kids of Kigali, Rwanda.
I’ve always been a fan of Valentine’s Day. A universal day to remind those around you how much you love and appreciate them! What could be better than making people feel extra loved and special?? Absolutely nothing. I love, love!!
His name was Blood, his street name anyways. He wore a black jacket and a hat that barely revealed his heavy eyes. His tiny little body didn’t even stretch to the height of my shoulder. He was only 10 years old. As I bent down towards his face to try to make out his slurring words, I was taken back by the strong odor of glue coming off his breath.
He was high along with the four other boys with him carrying plastic bottles filled with glue. Each day, he sniffs glue to breathe in the fumes and breathe out the hunger pain. Breathe in the fumes and breathe out the pain of being abandoned. Breathe in the fumes and breathe out the pain of being homeless. Breathe in the fumes and breathe out the pain of lacking necessary funds to go to school. Breathe in the fumes and breathe out the pain of being ignored by people who walk on by.
Breathe in the fumes and numb the heart from feeling anything.
There was a definite language barrier. I so badly wanted to tell them how much they are loved, chosen, and that God has not abandoned them…forgetting that sometimes you don’t need words to communicate real love.
Without thinking, the mom in me immediately wrapped up Blood and some of the other little ones in my arms. I couldn’t help but put my arms around them and hug them. I wanted to hold them. I wanted them to feel loved and seen in that moment.
My friend Morgan was with me and he suggested we buy them food from the little grocery store down the street. So we told the five kids to follow us and began slowly walking down the street hand in hand with the kids. Passing busy clubs and restaurants, people pointed and laughed at us for associating ourselves with the lowest of the lows.
“Today it is very fashionable to talk about the poor. Unfortunately, it is not fashionable to talk with them.”
Mother Teresa
Once we got to the store, Morgan generously invited the kids to pick out food they wanted and paid for it all. It was evident the workers were humbled by what was taking place in their store from their desire to run around and help us bag up all the food for each child.
Some of the kids beamed with smiles and displaced their giddiness through dancing, others stood in disbelief, and Blood revealed his gratefulness by saying thank you over 15 times.
Once we finished in the store, we congregated outside. I contemplated whether we should pray with the kids since they wouldn’t understand what we were saying. I decided it would be worth it anyway. The Lord translates heart language.
We circled up and held hands with all the bags of food in the middle. Morgan started praying for the kids and my eyes shot open in shock to find the kids passionately saying “yes, yes, yes!” out loud in agreement with what Morgan was praying. It was as if they understood what he was was praying and their hearts were coming into agreement. I continued to pray for them and declared that they are worthy and valued. That God has plans of redemption for them and in Jesus name addiction will be broken off their life and they will be filled with the spirit of Gods love. I opened my eyes to find that some of the store workers and people walking by had stopped and joined in prayer with us. We all declared Amen in one accord.
As we were walking the kids back to the sidewalk where we found them laying down, one of the boys looked at Morgan and said, “No more” and threw his half filled bottle of glue into the middle of the street.
I will never know if that boy will ever pick up another glue bottle again but I do know that when we take care of someone’s basic needs and meet them with the Fathers love, something in the atmosphere changes. Love conquers all. The Love from the Father awakens the numb heart and impresses the need to throw away what is hindering our freedom.
I cannot take credit for the victory that took place in front of my eyes. Morgan and I may have been the Lords hands and feet that night but it is His love that impresses on hearts, it is His love that shifts atmospheres, and it is His love that conquers all.
I could careless if those kids remember our faces or what we did for them that night. I want them to remember Jesus’ love for them. I am believing in faith that they will because they encountered the Fathers heart and when you feel His touch, His love, that changes everything.
Blood.
Red. The color associated with love.
Blood.
Pumping into our heart. Necessary for life.
Blood.
Spilled for a sacrifice. An offering for grace and redemption.
My little friend, Blood, doesn’t even know the significance of claiming blood over his soul, but he is covered by the blood of Jesus and is being pursued by the king of Heaven. He is loved, his life was created for a purpose, and his life will be redeemed. I believe it in faith.
Who am I to love the little ones that are overlooked and show them God’s love? This life we live is humbling. May God’s glory and love abound.
“We owe Him every honor that it is in our power to give Him.” ~ A.W Tozer
Thank you to all my supporters for your prayers and financial support. As always I am constantly humbled and grateful. I am only $3,021 away from being fully funded. Please prayerfully consider donating to help keep me on the field!
In His Love,
Ashley
