"Don't be afraid. Do not despair. You're God is present among you, a strong WARRIOR there to save you. He will take great delight in you, he will quite you with his LOVE, He will rejoice over you with singing."
-Zephaniah 3:17
It was sad to leave Romania. It was sad to say goodbye to the young girls that had taught me more of how to love over this past month. I asked God to give me more courage to LOVE without limits, these young orphans who have had some dark nights sang to my soul and taught me more of the character of my God.
The picture above is one of the mornings when we would pick beans and work in the greenhouse with some of the children, and "the boss" in the striped shirt on the right. They captured my heart when they all started singing, with giant smiles on their faces:
God is good all the time
He put a song of praise in this heart of mine
God is good all the time
Through the darkest night, His light will shine
God is good, God is good all the time
If you're walking through the valley
And there are shadows all around
Do not fear, He will guide you
He will keep you safe and sound
'Cause He's promised to never leave you
Nor forsake you and His Word is true
I would never wish on anyone what these children have been through at such a young age. The abandonment, the fear, and confusion, but these kids have been adopted by their heavenly Father and they have reason to sing, they have reason to dance and rejoice because they are no longer orphans and they have a Father who will NEVER leave or forsake them, they have a Father who has an unfailing LOVE for them no matter what the circumstances are around them, they have a God that is bigger than anything we will face in this world and He has their picture on His fridge, He knows them by name, He calls them friend, He sings songs of JOY over them, and that is enough for them!
God take away any orphan spirit within me and your children that causes us to shrink back, peer around the corner, and not believe there is enough room on your lap for us. God let us not be afraid to eat anything from your fridge, and feel like we have to work for what we want or have to steal it, let us remember that our very names are engraved on the palm of your hand, that we are yours, and our pictures are on your fridge and you say "Son you are ALWAYS with me and ALL that I have is yours".
Katherine, my daugher, I will provide for your every need, I see you right where you are right now, I see you in your mess, I see you struggling, and I love you, you are beautiful, I see me when I look at you, you are me now, you are carrying me around in your body. Use my hands and my feet, my eyes and my mouth to bring the orphans home, I want my house to be full, bring home my lost sheep, bring home my lost sons to me, bring them to my feet, and I will RUN to them. I love you and you are mine.
These pictures below are of some of the goodbyes on the last days we were in Romania. I looked into each of the girls eyes and told them how beautiful they were and to not let anyone tell them any different, and I think they believed it even if it was just for that brief moment. The middle picture is with one of the girls, Roxana, she is 14 and she walked me all the way back to where we were staying. She would not let go and tears were running down our faces. Even though this was breaking my heart, we were filled with Joy because we knew that we had loved well over the past month and that we would be sisters forever no matter what. That is what she told me when we hugged for the last time…
I am writing to you from India, and am in my second day of rest before ministry starts tomorrow. We are working and staying on campus with an organization called GEMS. It is amazing! On this campus alone they have a bible college, a women’s training center, a hospital, schools, and a center for young boys with polio. I cannot wait to get started and to see what God has for us this month. I want to thank each one of you, because without you and your unending prayers, support, and encouragement, I would not be here, in the spirits that I am in! I am so grateful for the LOVE that you have shown me, it has changed my life forever. Continue to spread this contagious JOY that you have wherever you are today, and don’t forget that through the darkest night GOD will be your LIGHT!
“Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting. In the slums we are the light of God’s kindness to the poor. TO children, to the poor, to all who suffer and are lonely, give always a happy smile, give them not only your care but also your heart”
-Mama T
