The music blares.
I feel the stares.
Crowded in a chilly room – they sit looking rather glum.
Rocking, rocking, back and forth.
No one’s stopping – the beat goes on.
Music blares.
I see the stares.
Crowded in a chilly room – they rock to and fro – no where to go.
Rocking, rocking, back and forth.
Orphaned for over two decades – for some almost three.
Silenced – wounded – neglected – closed off.
The music blares.
Rocking, rocking, back and forth.
I hear their silent screams.
Someone stop this mess!
Where is the freedom?
Where can they go?
Rocking, rocking, back and forth.
I must be imagining this – it can’t be so.
Who lives like this?
Why these women?
What happened?
How can someone be an orphan – unwanted – silenced for over 20 years?
The music blares – it’s all that soothes them.
Rocking, rocking back and forth.
No one’s stopping – the beat goes on.
In one smooth motion – I dart across the room – and turning the dial – I feel the stares.
The music is softer now – the rocking is slowing now – there is freedom to move.
When I walked into Jubilee on our first day of ministry – nothing could have prepared me for what I would see after Bible study time. Walking upstairs to the common room where the women hang out together – I felt like I was in a movie – like what I was seeing was absolutely surreal. ÒIs this a joke?Ó I thought. In my mind this scenario was absolutely ridiculous. I felt helpless when I realized it was a reality. 12-15 women who have been in Romanian orphanages/the streets since infancy or their early childhood years and now reside at this women’s home – most with some sort of mental handicap, sat around a room on couches rocking back and forth, back and forth to the beat of some music that made my skin want to crawl.
I’ve never met an orphan that was older than me.
I tried to understand. I tried to justify the situation. I tried to make sense of it. This is what they know – this is their routine – this is safe – this is comfortable – this is what they know. It blew me away. I felt so many questions rising up in my spirit – and it made me absolutely sick – like the great multitude of injustices done to these women over the last two decades overtook me in one smooth motion like an giant ocean wave – and left me gasping for breath.
I realized this month the Lord has a great work to be done – LOVING these women with His love – with 100% of all we have to give – holding nothing back – basically committing to say, “I’m all in.” Why? These women deserve nothing less – and the HEALING power of CHRIST flows through us, as we LOVE with HIS LOVE. If we are the hands and feet of Christ, I believe redemption, restoration, and healing WILL happen in the hearts of these women this month. I may not speak Romania (I donÕt) and I wonÕt perhaps see the results directly – but I know I will see it in their smiles – and the relationships we buildÉI already do, and itÕs only been a week!
