As our team arrived at Smile Seeker Childrens home last week in the slums of Mowlem, Kenya my heart broke when I saw the place. I saw such a dark, gloomy, muddy, dungeon like structure that reaked of urine and sewage. I first thought of how I would never want my children to live in a place like this. I went outside one afternoon and saw a tiny boy standing alone on the muddy ground. I grabbed him and without making a sound he clung tighter to me as I pulled him in and wrapped him in my arms for maybe 20 minutes. I didn't want to let go.
Everyday I walk along the streets and children swarm me wanting to hug me, touch my arm, hold my hand, say hello, smile, and want love. I want to hold them all and not let go. The childrens' hands are muddy, their heads are flaking of dry skin, some whites of their eyes are discolored but I don't really care.
Is it now selfish of me to want my own kids when there are so many that need a real home, need someone to love, need a family?
We now have some great friends here in Kenya, one that told us his story. He is a young adult who, with another 2 friends, couldn't put the thought out of their mind of leaving a particular 8 young street boys behind. Over a period of time, God called these young men, even when they had no money themselves, to take in these 8 boys as part of their family. WOW, men who were in their twenties, with nothing, taking boys in. No strings attached. They love them. Each one of these boys have an incredible story. They mostly grew up on the streets, being neglected by their mothers and fathers, eating trash, wondering why they have been abandoned, taking drugs and getting into trouble with the police, many have almost encountered death. But by the grace of God, even through the storms, God provided a real family.
I don't get it. I don't understand it all. But I do understand the realness of love. How God loves His children so much. Every single child He loves the same. My heart breaks. There are so many children in the world, so many children in front of my eyes today that need a family.
At this point in my life I still want kids of my own, but I know that my thoughts and feelings have now been opened to the realities of what family is. It doesn't matter if it's your biological parents but I can love these children so much just as Christ loves each one and my heart aches for the children that I want to take home with me to give them a place of real family, real love.
I have no idea what God has in store for me for the future, but if you would like to sponsor a child, donate to these children and to the structure of this orphanage to create a real home for them, that we are priveleged to be apart of, please contact me. God is doing amazing things here in Kenya and I am honored and blessed to be apart of this family.
