Once upon a time, there was a girl. And that girl looked and acted counter to the rest of the world. She did not fit into what society told her was “normal”. And because she was different, her parents could not, would not take care of her. So … a lady by the name of Judy said she would provide a temporary loving and nurturing family environment for her until she could be placed with a permanent family. Judy came to realize that this was what God created her to do. She took in more and more children that were “different” in society’s eyes and called her home, Hope Home.
We said goodbye yesterday. Always, it is hard. Five months of goodbyes down and it doesn’t seem to get easier. With tears in our eyes and prayers on our lips, we thanked the Lord for this sweet month. A month of compassion, of laughter, of intimacy, of love, of HOPE.
This month, we had the incredible opportunity to serve at Hope Home – a foster home for Thai children with special needs. Just after a few hours at Hope Home, we saw the raw passion, love, and intense care that the staff and founders had for these children. And the rest of the month we continued to be blown away by their individualized, one-on-one care for the children in all aspects of their life – nutrition, communication, development, education, and socialization. They ultimately sacrifice their lives because they believe God has MORE for these children – children who would otherwise be in an institution with 80 other kids and only 2 caretakers.
This month was the perfect picture of administration/behind-the-scenes service and loving on kids. We organized photos and repaired books and painted walls, but we also got to help teach school and read books during physical therapy and take the kiddos on walks. And man, the Lord used those precious kids to teach me that regardless of how we look or how we talk or where we come from, the Lord has given ALL His children the desires to be known and loved. Ultimately a desire that can only be filled with the Lord, but one that we can showcase through an overflow of God’s love for us.
Our team finished the month the same way we started – in prayer. Sitting on our knees, heads bowed to our King – singing praises to our worthy and good Father. Our word for our team this month was intimacy. We were on a new team, in a new season. And we found ourselves living out vulnerability and truth, with Jesus being the center of everything. As our intimacy with the Father grew, it overflowed into our relationships with one another and into our ministry at Hope Home. We saw the fruit of what true, biblical, unified community looks like and how God was glorified by serving and loving children that are so incredibly special in God’s eyes. And eventually, there will be a happily ever after – in God’s Kingdom, with Him, forever.
Coming to Viewers Like You: A photo blog + video blog portraying more stories about Hope Home.
