Sorry for the wait wifi was spotty, this is my post from last month in Honduras at The Heart of Christ.
As I was sitting around a bonfire, listening to Hondurans worship in spanish I began to look up at the sky. I looked up and I saw millions of stars lighting up the sky. For those of you who do not know me, I love the stars! I love looking at the stars and seeing how even the smallest stars shine bright and are noticed. As I looked up at the Honduran night sky I was reminded that even the stars are His. Everything around us, is His. I could not help but be so thankful for this past month in Honduras and all of the expeirences and growth I have encountered in just this short first month of the race. God has shown me and taught me so much about myself that I almost was not prepared for.
In my last blog, I shared about my struggle of not knowing my purpose of being at this ministry. I needed this month, I did not know it then but I know it now, I needed this month and growth to happen first in order for this race to really change me for the better. One thing God has really taught me this month is that I have a voice and a story that is worth being shared, but most importantly worth being heard.
In my last blog, I started sharing some of the kids stories and I wanted to elaborate on them a little bit. See, one thing God has taught me while being here is that not only do I have a voice and a story that is worth being heard, but that God can use me and my voice to share others stories to enable them and give them a voice as well.
This month my team and one other team from my squad are working with a ministry called Heart of Christ. Heart of Christ is all about seeking justice for young women and children who have been through some sort of abuse (sexual, physical, verbal, emotional). They have a children’s home where most of the children are products of rape and incest, many of them have been abused and abandoned, neglected or raped. Many of the kids mothers were just kids themselves. As I have gotten to know and love on the kiddos, I have realized that even the smallest ones have a voice and deserve to be heard.
It is in our nature to want to help people, that was what I wanted to do here. I just wanted to help, but sometimes there is not much we can do. If only there was a magic button that automatically erased all the evil and pain from the world (as much as I wish there was one). What I can do though, is I can love on the kiddos (which you can bet, they are getting tons of lovins), and then I can share there stories, and most importantly we can show the kiddos light and call on our Papa for the kind of healing only He can bring.
The following stories can be tough to take in, but I want you all to not focus too much on the stories themselves, but the hope and restoration that comes from these stories. So here goes nothing.
Dulce
Sweet Dulce is about 18 months old and is just as sweet as her name. Dulce came to the children’s home when she was just a few hours old. They call Dulce a “racer baby” because a world race team was here when she came, and she was handed to a racer. Dulce’s mother was young and worked on a pig farm. She had Dulce on the side of a mountain and left her there in the dirt to die. She was taken to the children’s home where she was and still is cared for and loved and is now the happiest, sassiest, little girl. Her mother was arrested and is in prison.
Jafet
Oh little Jafet. Jafet is almost 2 years old, and such a little ham! His father is in prison, and Jafet was taken from his home because he was being abused by his alcoholic mother.
Ami
Little Ami just turned 2 and was born here at the childrens home. Her mother was 12 years old when she was born, her mother was raped by her father and uncle since the age of 2. Ami’s mother is no longer here, she suffered from mental illness and ran away and left Ami at the home.
Karolina
Precious Karolina just turned 2 as well and came to the home in January. Karolina was found tied up and badly abused and raped. If you looked at this sweet face you would never guess all the things she has gone through. This sweet girl is happy, loved and is experiencing full restoration from the man upstairs.
Cristofer
As you can tell from the picture, orenery little Cristofer is very small. Cristofer is actually 4 years old. He is so little because His mother was addicted to drugs and alcohol and consumed them while she was pregnant with Cristofer. Cristofer was also a victim of abuse.
Michele and Catherine
I already mentioned Michele in my previous post, but here is a refresher. Michele is 15 years old, and yes that little girl is her daughter Catherine. When Michele was young her brother murdered her father. Her mother began having multiple boyfriends and Michele was sexually abused and raped by her uncle and her mothers boyfriends since the age of 6. Michele was exploited economically and began pregnant at the age of 11. She came to the children’s home, very pregnant and when she was 12 she had her baby girl Catherine. Catherine is now 3 years old and Michele is the best mom. She is doing everything she can to ensure her and her daughter have the best lives. Michele is in school and just graduated eighth grade.
When you look at these sweet faces you would never guess that these kids have been through all of these things in just there short few years of life. This is what our Father does. He brings light into the darkness. He brings hope, and restoration. He brings love. These kids are joyful, loved, and restored. My prayer for these sweet kids is that they do not live there lives with the identity from their past, but they live with their identity firmly grounded in Jesus. I believe that these kids have broken the chain and will end the cycle of abuse. The kids are world changers and have the power to move mountains. Oh little ones, the places you will go!
Even the littlest stars still shine just like even the littlest children have a voice.
In order to stay on the race I need to raise $1,565 by November 30th! I fully trust the Lord to provide, and ask that you would prayerfully consider supporting me financially as I follow His calling! Thank you for all your prayers and support!
