“You have to immerse yourself into another world in order to better understand your own.” I heard this quote the other day in a movie, and I have been thinking about this a lot the past few days. I really believe it is true, and I see how this has been happening in my life. The more of the world I see, the more people I meet, and the more I learn about different cultures…the more I think about my “world” and culture in America. I have been spending a lot of time with children in the Philippines. I am helping teach Kindergarten Monday thru Thursday at the local school, and spending time playing and swimming with the kids from the Children’s Home. I love these children, and the more time I spend with them, the more I cannot comprehend their experiences, their pasts, and what they have been through already at such young ages. Yesterday when we were playing at the pool, I forgot they were orphans. I felt like I was at the pool in America, playing with the kids at the pool at home. They love all the same games, they love to let their imaginations go wild, and they love to splash me and climb all over me. I started once again to see how we are all the same. I thought back to that night in Bangkok when I was talking to the women at the bars. That was when I started to really see how we all have the same desires in our heart for love and security, and the same thing hit me at the pool yesterday. All children just want someone to play with them, give them attention, and make them feel special and safe. I feel like God keeps giving me these glimpses of humanity; these moments where He shows me we are all His children, and we all need His love. Before coming to these countries, I always thought of prostitutes, orphans, beggars, etc. as people I have nothing in common with, and wondered how I would relate with them and interact with them. But the more time that goes on and the more I experience, the more I see myself in them.
For the past several years, I have nannied for these two amazing kids, Ali and Eric. They are two of my best buddies and I miss them so much. I have learned so much from them, and God continues to teach me through my time with them. Ali is an 8 year old version of me. She loves to play and have fun, laugh, dance around; she gets scared at night, and she doesn’t like to be alone. Even if she needs to go to the basement to get something, she needs me with her holding her hand. When we play at the pool, she always wants me right there next to her, and if I am not giving her eye contact and full attention, she cutely says my name until I do. She reminds me so much of me when I was little, and of how I am now. Just because I am 23, doesn’t mean those fears and desires go away. I still sometimes get scared at night, I love to dance and goof around, and I don’t like feeling alone. I see these same things in the children here, and it shows me that they have many of the same fears and desires. Unfortunately, they have been hurt and given more reasons to fear, and have had desires crushed. Yet something in them does not let them stop longing for real love, security, and joy. The Children’s Home here is amazing, and provides all of this for 28 children. It is incredible to see security and love restored in the lives of these children. The more of this restoration I see, the more I long to see it in the lives of the children I see on the streets, the beggars in Cambodia, the prostitutes in Thailand, the homeless in New York City, the hurting people in my life, restoration in my own life….the list goes on.
Thank you, Lord, for all you are showing me and teaching me. I pray for restoration in the lives of all your children. Thank you for being the only One who can truly restore and heal.
