You walk hand in hand with them. You play. You sing. You dance. You eat beside them. You accept their precious hugs and kisses on the cheek. You look into their smiling faces, their sincere eyes. You feel their deep love, generosity and acceptance. You see the hope and joy that flow from them… and you would never know if you hadn't been told that their pasts are full of darkness; of abuse and neglect, of rejection and disease, of prostitution and exploitation.
Tonight… as I walked hand in hand with one of the girls from the orphanage who was infected with HIV at birth, I was filled with sorrow. Sorrow beyond words. Really, you can't help but wonder… why would God let something like this happen to this innocent child?
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9-8)
I will never understand. But I know that God is good. Even when I don't understand how life can go the way it does, I believe Him when He says:
"When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water." (Isaiah 41:17,16)
And this applies to more than just thirst… God provides for those in need. Even when it doesn't directly appear that He is in control, we can trust Him. This girl, though her body is being ravaged by a disease she did nothing to contract, is no longer living in the red light district. She is no longer without medicine that is extending and improving her life day by day. She is no longer separated from the love of our Almighty God. God is good, even in the midst of HIV.
Despite all the darkness in their pasts, all of these kids are so blessed by the orphanage and have been a tremendous blessing to me. We eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with them as well as spending 2-3 full days with them each week. Our time at the orphanage has been eye opening and inspiring. This month's ministry has been the most heart-involved ministry we have partnered with yet. Our contact is a man who's heart is set on following wherever the Lord leads him. He is a man of boldness, wisdom and vision. He is a hard-working and dedicated servant. He is a man led by the Spirit. He is an inspiration. As we spoke about the day during team time this evening, we all agreed that we have seen God tangibly at work more than ever and it's encouraging, it's exciting, it's invoking a deep passion in me. I already know that I will not be ready to leave at the end of the month.
