Having been on the race for seven months I should have known
better. I should have known to expect the unexpected, especially on days off.
Three teammates and I set off to town on our day off. We decided to walk the
streets and just explore. If you are willing, if your eyes are opened, you will
find that the Lord has the adventure He wants you to live, just waiting for you
to live it.
We had only walked a few streets when we ran into what God
had in store for our day and his name was Owen. This little boy approached me,
as I was taking a picture of an old building, asking if I would please take his
photo. I smiled and said of course. As I
begin to snap the photo, Owen quickly pulled out a glue bottle from his pocket
and began sniffing it. I pulled my camera down as my heart began to sink.
Sniffing glue is the life of the street kids. Do you
remember the kids that did thinner in Honduras? These children use glue for the
same reason. It numbs them from their hunger and from the pain of it all. With
the glue bottle covering all but Owens eyes I could see it. His eyes spoke of
all the pain. The pain of not having a home, not feeling loved and not feeling
wanted. One of my squad mates, Jeremy,
walked up to Owen offering him a proposition; a loaf of bread for his glue. He
looked at his glue bottle for a second but could not hide the hunger pains so
he agreed and handed his addiction over.
As we walked to the grocery store I couldn’t help but to
notice his clothes, well rather rags. Before we walked into the grocery store Owen had on what I hope to be a
very warm, long lasting new sweatshirt. Walking through the grocery store with this sweet bare foot boy is an
experience that I will never forget. He picked out his loaf of bread and
started walking to the front to check out. What child would give up anything for a loaf of bread? What child would
even be satisfied with a grocery run with only getting bread? Owen was but we
couldn’t let him walk out with just bread. In no time his arms were filled with
cookies, milk and flip flops.
As I was checking out I was prepared for Owen to grab his
bag of goodies and run out the door. I wasn’t prepared for this little boy not
to want his time with us to end. We all wanted to love on Owen more so we
decided to treat him to the movies. Something He has never done before. We also
thought it would be a safe place for him to be able to eat his food without
being trampled by the other street kids and forced to share every slice of
bread.
Walking to the theatre was a painful walk. Kids from
eighteen to four ran down the streets each sniffing glue bottles, all in hopes
that it would silence the pain. With much effort we were able to get to the
theater with just Owen. That was a mission that seemed impossible but was made
possible with the Lords help. I caught myself wanting to just watch Owen
during the movie. Watch this sweet child eat his food and watch him for two
hours feel safe, protected, loved and very wanted. As the movie went on, my
prayer was that he would forever feel the love of the Lord. For his love is greater than any other.
The end of the night is really when it hit me hard. The
streets were dark and honestly scary. A lot of drunken man wandered the
streets. We had a ride come pick us up at the door because the streets where
unsafe at this hour. I looked at Owen as we were climbing into the car and his
eyes spoke of much fear. I thought Owen would just walk to the street he sleeps
on because I assumed the dark and drunks are normal to him. I was wrong. He is
only seven. He is a little boy who was afraid. We asked him if we could give
him a ride to ‘his street’ and with a quick jump in our van he accepted the
offer. I cannot grasp the Lords love for his children, for his people. My heart
broke for Owen today. The Lords heart breaks for Owen every day. I got a small glimpse of the Lords heart as I
spent time with Owen and another glimpse of his heart the very next day.
Owen age 7
The following day we were able to spend the day at one of
the orphanages that Shekinah Glory has, they have 3 orphanages and 25 churches.
This was one of my favorite days on the race thus far. This orphanage has 31
kids, two of which are babies. Moses,5 weeks, and Joseph, 4 weeks, are the
sweet souls that stole my heart. Both children were abandoned and found in bushes. Joseph was found very shortly after he was left but Moses was not. It is evident that Moses had been in the bush for a long time because ants had started to eat him. My heart breaks for these children. The Fathers heart breaks for these children.
Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me -psalm 27:10
Moses ( 5 weeks )
Joseph ( 4 weeks )
After meeting Owen, Moses, and Joseph I am sure of one
thing: We are not promised to not experience pain on this earth. Suffering and hardships will occur when they
are not deserved. They will happen because we live in a fallen world BUT God
has made a promise that will forever remain true. It is the promise to never
forsake us. Never. That provides a comfort to my heart that nothing could ever
fill. If God is on my side then what do I have to fear?
Joseph and I after bath time
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he
will never leave you nor forsake you, Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.’ – Deuteronomy 31:8
