Step into the shoes of a parent in Zolano: You start your day waking up and putting your little toddler in the best clothes you can find or borrow after bathing and fixing his/her hair. Then walking over to the local church, getting your child assigned a number and providing all the documentation for him/her. After getting your piece of paper with your numbered spot going up to a house to get a weight and height on your child then wait. Wait until your number is called to go back down and if needed, change your child’s clothes if they not to the required standards. You are just hoping they look their best and the picture turns out. Then continuing on with your day since that is all you can do while waiting to see if your child gets picked. If your son/daughter will stand out to someone across the way to sponsor your little one all because you can’t provide for their basic needs. Your child’s nutrition, education and overall well-being is determined by if your child’s picture tugs at someone’s heart strings in another part of the world.
The past couple of days ministry was comprised of gathering info, taking pics, organizing kids and paperwork to get over one hundred kids in this community ready to be posted for sponsorship. It was a bit overwhelming to be on this side of the process where in the past I have only seen the promotions to adopt a child at different events and the piles of profiles at one table. I saw parents suffering from little infections like pink eye that was spreading and not treated to the stages of puffiness and swelling. Also to seeing the kids suffering from lice, worms and malnutrition. I had to change clothes of children so they would look presentable for the photo and weigh them for their records.
I wanted to pray for each one of these kids but got overwhelmed with them just swarming in. Taylor and I ended up just stepping back and praying for everyone as a whole focusing on all the problems and the restoration this town needs. I can’t imagine how the parents feel going through this process and what it does to their pride. Also, what do the kids think? Do they know what is going on?
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
— Mark 10:13-16
Honduras: It’s going to be a harder month with sacrifice and living but a whole new experience and different kind of abandonment. More to come!
Fun Fact: pico de gallo is called chimal.
