Every story starts somewhere. Mine started with an elderly Filipino woman on the plane. She couldn’t speak anything but Tagalog. Through trading goldfish for candy corn we became the best of friends.
Next a story has to include a love story. I mean, let’s be honest, the best stories are about someone falling in love…. Well, I fell in love with this group of street kids. I literally think about them all day when I am not with them. I think about how I can make their day better, how I can love better, how to impact their lives, how I can share Jesus with them. I can’t stop thinking about them… even right now I am sitting with a ridiculously big smile on my face thinking about how I am going to see them at 10 am tomorrow.
Every good story has a side-kick. I mean Batman had Robin… I have Kat.
Kat has had my back this whole month with the pursuit of my street kids. We visit the parents and check in to make sure they are being treated right at home. Kat is my Robin. My side kick… side punch.. side kung fu master… That person I can make eye contact with and we just crack up laughing… who ever knows why… I never do… but you know every good story has some good humor.
Speaking of humor… Most of the time the way I break the ice with the kids is by doing something so ridiculous and silly. That might mean getting ridiculously excited when they share something they are proud of with me. Running up and down the streets with them in my arms screaming and swinging them around just for playing a game well or singing a song. Sometimes it means teaching them the dances from other countries. Screaming and laughing back when they make loud noises. Just being buddies.
Then every story has a conflict to overcome. Our conflict is bullying and parental abuse or neglect.
Some days it is hard for us. Some days our joy can over shine the darkness. Most of the time it is the latter… because we love each other…. And some days that is enough…
