My Grown-Up Christmas List
“No more lives torn apart, that wars would never start. And time would heal all hearts. And everyone would have a friend. And right would always win. And love would never end. Oh, this is my grown up Christmas list.”
This month, my team and I served in two different orphanages. We spent the first two weeks of December in a city called Latacunga where we served children with special needs. They were a bit older, 8 years old to about 21 years old. None of them were verbal but some could communicate with a form of sign language or their iPad program. We fed them, had dance parties, read “Blanca Nieves” (Snow White) more times than I can recall, worked on their iPad programs, and went on long, adventurous walks in their wheelchairs. To say it was difficult to transition to Quito when the time came would be an understatement. Stepping into a van while your little, beautiful friend sobs as she’s wheeled away breaks your heart. It just does.
There were little children at the orphanage in Quito to love immensely and more “tias” (caregivers) to uplift but for some reason, our hearts were just stuck in Latacunga. We transitioned from living in on our little apartment connected to the orphanage in Latacunga where we made meals and Christmas cookies together, crafted journals and went on scavenger hunts to a big, cozy house full of the rest of our 41-person squad. It was nice to be with everyone but we struggled to buy in. Our hearts were elsewhere. We made excuses and our downcast souls could be justified but that’s not what it’s all about. It’s not about justifying our feelings, it’s about pressing forward. Pressing in. To see things through God’s lens even when we are much more comfortable sitting in our emotions and feelings.
On the ride from Latacunga to Quito, a teammate laid her head on my shoulder and held my hand, explaining her emotions. Mad. Sad. Confused. We got talking about how Jesus loves change. How we went on the mission trip to love as Jesus does. Jesus never stayed in one place for long. He loved people and met them where they were at but then continued moving forward to other places to love on others, to show His love all over, regardless of how much people would have likely desired for Him to stay with them physically to continue experiencing Him. But that’s where faith and trust and the Spirit comes in. We have to love and then trust God that He will continue to place the right people in those children’s lives to care for them, just as He did with us. We have to remember that it wasn’t truly US that those children fell in love with- it was Christ exuding from us and the love He taught us. Pride can be a tricky thing. Those are memories they can hold onto but also continue to experience without our physical presence there.
So here we are. In Quito. Now in love with a new bunch of kiddos. We snuggle up with them in their onesie pj’s and feed them and do more jumps on a trampoline than I did my whole childhood combined. It’s been a pretty bumpy month but our challenge is to press in. To not let “time heal all wounds” or to wait for the storm to clear. Our challenge is to say the hard things which sometimes sounds like, “I’m sorry”.
One of our team times this month, we listened to the song, “Grown Up Christmas List” and wrote our own.
My desires this Christmas included wishes for overwhelming peace for those who have experienced loss, God-loving mommies and daddies for orphans, family reconciliations, and for eyes that see those we serve AND those I serve with as Christ does.
There isn’t a single thing that could be placed under a tree this year to make me thankful that is was Christmas…only something that could be placed in my heart. Peace beyond understanding and “the joy of the Lord as my strength”.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers as we share this journey together.
Hug for you and yours this Christmas season,
Lisa
Some pictures for a glimpse of our month:
It’s an honor to be your jungle gym, guys. Truly.
Every night, we would help with dinner, have a dance party, then read a Bible story and one of the little ones would pray. The prayers weren’t audible, other than maybe a few noises, but man, was it beautiful.
Rolling around in the grass, only able to communicate with belly laughs, smiles, silly faces, and furrowed eyebrows.
One of our fun, laughter-filled, ridiculous team times in Latacunga.
“Besito” on the cheek selfie! They were so loving and always excited to see us. This was post dancing/running around/little kid hair salon. 😉
When the 3 year old gets ahold of the paint brush on face-painting day.
The little ones here in Quito have been pretty sick. Praying complete healing over this place and these tough guys.
