Yesterday was our first day in Manila. As soon as we got here, the kids in the village were swarming around. Later that day we had an opportunity to go out and play with the kids. One of the first things I learned was how much the kids LOVED to be thrown in the air. With the smaller kids it was a lot easier. One little boy kept coming up to us saying “Superman! Superman!” which meant pick him up and throw him in the air. The older kids would wrap their hands around our lower arm and expect us to pick them up so that they could hang. Towards the end of the day the kids were holding onto my thumbs and then we would count to three together and they would jump into the air while I would pull them upward…this resulted in them jumping way over my head, which they thought was great! We did this so many times that the skin on one of my thumbs started to wear out and I had to tell them “no more” to which they responded “tomorrow!” I agreed with them and said that we would do the same thing again today; until I realized that my thumb was bleeding. I think it needs a few days off!! But I’m very excited that my team gets to continue to do ministry in this area of Manila and keep throwing these kids in the air!
I feel like every day that we are out here on the Race we are going to have experiences that we think we will never forget. One of mine was yesterday when I was sitting outside with the kids. One of the boys came up to me and sat on my lap. He then grabbed my hands and pulled them around him and just held onto my hands. He just wanted to be held for a little bit. It was one of the best feelings. It reminded me of my nephew, Brayden. There are times when he just puts his hand on your leg and it makes you melt. This boy made me melt. I just wanted to give him the love and attention he needed. I was really afraid when I headed out on the race that I wouldn’t want to touch people or hug them because they were dirty. I did not care one bit how dirty or stinky this little boy was. All I cared about was him knowing in that brief moment that I love him and more importantly that God loves him. I know his precious little hands have probably been through so much more in his brief life than mine have and I just wanted to give him a good lap to rest on.
I’m sure that little boy sitting on my lap didn’t have as much an affect on him as it did on me, but it made me so excited for the coming year. It made me so excited to know that I will be able to hold kids who need to be held, or pray for a single mother who is struggling, or give hugs to people who haven’t been touched for years because of an illness or disease. I am so incredibly grateful that I get to have this opportunity.
THANK YOU!!!
