Faith Like A Child - Explore Archived World Race Alumni Blogs

We have truly been blessed so far on the Race, and it didn’t stop when we got to Bolivia. We are working with an orphanage called Bolivian Children’s Mission. They take in abandoned and abused children: 30 in total aging from 4-17 years old. This home was owned and run by a couple from Australia; however, they have now returned to their home and the orphanage lacks discipline and love. My team and I are actually living in the home with the kids. Can we talk about chaos?

When we arrived at the home, we were bombarded with little hands wanting to help and to be loved. After five days of travel and 60 total hours in a bus, we were exhausted and overwhelmed. But these kids quickly stole our hearts.

Since we’ve been here, God has been doing an amazing work in our hearts as well as with our ministry. First of all, as a team we all vowed to be more honest and vulnerable with each other. By exposing our insecurities and uncertainties and by keeping each other accountable in our attitudes, this has been an incredible help in fusing our team together to become a family instead of just people on a mission. Second of all, many of us enjoy children, but living with them is a different story. By having this experience, we are learning how to give up our needs for those of the kids and God is showing us how to truly have faith like a child.

There have been many experiences thus far that have been deemed as “blog worthy”, but one in particular stuck out to me in many ways.

A few nights ago after we had put all the kids to bed, my team and I were watching a movie when one of the Bolivian volunteers frantically asked us if we could drive Devora, one of the little girls, to the hospital because she was running a high fever. (The director had told us that if we had our driver’s license that we could drive the orphanage’s bus to help take the kids to school and pick them up. However, like every other country besides the U.S., this bus is manual and I was the only one who knew how to drive it.) Not knowing how long we would be there, Jeff and I sacrificed our sleep to take Devora and the lady to the hospital.

When we got there, we waited patiently in the abandoned, white waiting room for the nurse to call our name. A fuzzy television playing a Spanish version of Ice Age was hardly a time-killer for 8-year old Devora or for us. Finally when they were ready to take her back, she clung to my neck in fear of what would happen. The nurses were very friendly, but when I released my grip on her to put her on the bed, she began to whimper. The nurse to closed the curtains behind her, and now the thin, blue cloth was separating me from Devora and her whimpers became louder. I quickly ran to her side and in my broken Spanish told her that everything would be alright. All she wanted me to do is wrap to my arms around her.

After the taking of her temperature, giving her a shot, and much more that I’m sure American medicine wouldn’t have a need for, she was sent on her way with the knowledge that she didn’t have to go to school the next morning. The only remedy she seemed like she wanted was for me to have my arms completely around her.

I began comparing this night to my relationship with Jesus. Do I want to stick by His side through everything that I do? Am I satisfied with simply the knowledge of Him? If we were separated for even a second, would I be upset—or even worse, would I know it?

The instantaneous trust that Devora had for me was crazy. She hadn’t known me for even two days and she already picked me over anyone else in the orphanage to soothe her pain. She didn’t need to know my background, my political decisions, or even my religion; all she knew was that I accepted her, which was enough.

Something that we as a team have been learning is that we do not need to work for God’s love. It doesn’t matter if our bed is made in the morning, or if we smell good, or even if we spent enough time during personal devotions, God simply loves us because we are His. Having the knowledge that He wraps His arms completely around me is enough for me.

“How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you.
You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.
Praise the Lord, for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.”
– Psalm 31:19-21