My crazy-boys
I shared in my last blog that our nights in Cambodia were spent building relationships with a handful of boys at a night shelter established by KALeB. Each night the boys would leave the streets to stay at the shelter where they could shower, wash their clothes, eat a free dinner, and hang out with 6 American girls!
Over the 3 weeks we were there, we bonded with these boys, ages 6-15, and filled our nights with dancing to Korean music videos, playing card games, singing & playing the guitar, and opening our hearts and lives to each other.
Here are two boys in particular that stole my heart:
Mon:
Six years old and my future son; I’m not even kidding, I love this boy as much as if I had birthed him into this world. He is little and CRAZY and has this thick brown, bowl cut hair, and the most beautiful, charming smile you’ve ever seen! He’s the smallest and often gets picked on, but when it happens he comes running into our laps to cuddle and find safety. He reminds me of Mowgli from the Jungle Book. My favorite is when he climbs all over me and runs around like a madman, but will snuggle and let me love on him because even though he lives on the street, he’s still only six.
Jake:
He is Mon’s older brother and 11. It’s taken me a few days, but I think I’ve got Jake figured out. He acts like he’s too cool for school, but really all he wants is love. We have this ridiculous play-fight-semi-violent relationship 🙂 He will punch my arm and I’ll respond with “Ohhh, I’m too strong for that wheeny punch (which in reality actually hurt)”…then we will start karate chopping each other and fighting and eventually he will end up trapped in my arms slung over my shoulder. He acts like he’s mad…but I know he’s not. I know this because when no one is looking he will slide up close to me and pull my arm around his chest. Or, he’ll slide his hand into mine and we will inter-digitate hand hold until his “boy-sitting-still” time span runs up. But the best is when he flashes me his heart-melting smile and tickles my stomach. He’s only 11 and has had to act so strong, so tough, but I know how much he wants and needs love despite his attempts to act like he doesn’t.
My favorite day on the Race: playing soccer at Olympic stadium
We picked up the boys, crammed into two tuck-tucks and headed to the stadium. The place was crazy-crowded, but eventually we found an empty patch of dirt and claimed it for our soccer field. Immediately the boys threw off their shoes and began the game barefoot. Wanting to play like the locals, I threw my Chaco’s to the corner and ran to join the craziness that was our soccer match. There were no rules, no time limit…just running around, laughing, and trying to follow the ball as the boys ran circles around me. Sadly, my team was whooped 5-2. Even though I was schooled by a bunch of barefoot 10 year old boys, it was still the best day ever!
Life-thoughts after the Race:
This past month the Lord began to speak to me in clearer tones about what He may have for me post-Race. His voice spoke the most clearly one night at the boy’s night shelter. Mon was lying in my lap, and as I held him watching the Korean music videos on the TV, a thought captivated me: “I could do this. Having a boy escaping a night on the streets sleep in my lap in a place (a home) of rest, provision, comfort, safety…I could do this.” I began picturing opening a Children’s Home. I know that’s a very specific dream, but when I boiled it down to its core, this is what I found:
A passion and desire to provide for those in need – especially children and youth; seeing the life of children living in slums and impoverished areas has opened my eyes to a major need in the world that I long to do something about.
Neglected. I hear that word and a passion roars to life within me. For a child or teenager to feel unloved and abandoned breaks my heart. I want to establish a home that that takes children who are forgotten, overlooked, or unwanted and bring them into an environment and life where they are wanted and cared for. I picture a home where children are encouraged to dream, an environment where life is spoken over them, and where Christ is ultimately glorified.
I read Luke 11:33 and my heart came alive:
No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.
That is the core of my dream. I picture a home for those who are cast aside, and a home that functions as a beacon of light in a dark world. I want to love hurting children and show them a life bathed in the gloriousness of Jesus Christ.
This dream feels big and overwhelming. However, if the Race has taught me anything, it’s to
Dream big,
Not limit God to a box,
And embrace seemingly impossible dreams and trust the Lord to make His will happen.
