"The very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows." Luke 12:5
I've struggled for a few days about sharing this blog. This is a subject close to my heart, that I'm not completely willing to share with the whole world but God woke me up at 5 am and said SHARE IT! So in obedience to Him I will share…
This little boy changed my life forever. He lived in the slums of Hyderabad, India. He has no name, didn't know his birthday or how old he was, who his parents were, or if he had any family. He was the happiest, most carefree child, and had the most beautiful, contagious, spirit filled smiled of anyone I have ever met. He lived his life roaming the dumps and streets of Hyderabad for food, water, and clothes everyday. He lived a life of survival, he was his own mom and dad. So young, yet so old and had life experiences, struggles, and worries that no child should have.
I struggled for a few months after returning from India, because I couldn't understand if EVERYTHING has a purpose and God uses everything to bring His glory then what was the point in this child's life? I mean come on, he didn't even have a name. We think he was around the age of 4 based on his size. No one even knew he existed so how can God have a purpose for what happened? But God did have a purpose.
I met this little boy, and his story lives on through me. You see, God used this angel to call me into missions. How many more unloved children around the world are there that need to be hugged and told they are loved? Children that just need to know they matter enough that I took a year, a month, a day, or even a few minutes just to be with them, to laugh with them, to love them, to show them they matter to the King who created them and love them. His life had a purpose, and he fulfilled his purpose and now he runs on the streets of gold with His Heavenly Father running with him, calling him by name! A name that God has specifically for him.
There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about this precious little boy, and my heart smiles because the impact he had on my life. I can't help but smile when I picture him playing in heaven and sitting down to eat with Christ, a meal that he didn't have to search the dumps for but that was specifically prepared for him. I thank God for allowing our paths to cross. Even today I have a hard time comprehending not giving a child a name, or abandoning a child. They are a gift from God!!
But that's not the end….the very first person God put in my life in Guatemala…is another nameless child.
This little girl was 15 days old when I met her. She was born 2 months premature. In Guatemala children are not named until they are 10 days old because the family does not want to become emotionally attached in case the child dies. The survival rate for children under the age of 5 in this region is 27%. The street across from the hospital is lined with casket shops, the majority being baby and child size coffins.
Every chance I get I go to the hospital and visit with this precious little girl. I hold her as much as the nurses will let me, I pray over her, talk to her, and just love on her. (Actually, I told her when we leave at the end of the month I know she will be strong enough to come with us, and she can be the youngest World Racer. She made a face at me 🙂 ). The first day we prayed for her she started kicking her feet and waving her arms, and turned her face in our direction. The second day as I was praying she opened her eyes!!! She is a fighter!!
I prayed about naming her, because God knows us by name and everyone should have a name. Her name is Rosalind Valentina, which mean "beautiful rose, and strong healthy one." My prayer is that God would use Rosalind to bring revival to Guatemala that He would put a fire inside of her that no one will be able to put out!
This morning I realize more than ever before, that God wants to use my past experiences for His glory. My past is not something I should be ashamed of, because it took those situations and experiences to be able to love the unloved. To reach out to the unnamed children of the world, the children who have never been held, who don't know what a hug is, who have never shared a smile with someone, who don't know there is a God who not only loves them but created them and knew them before they were even born. Children who have never been told they MATTER!!!
To the unnamed and named children of the world: God loves you!!! He created you!!! He knows how many hairs are on your head!! He knows where you will sleep tonight and where you will find food today! He holds you while you sleep! He laughs when you laugh and He catches every tear you cry. He has sent me into the nations to physically give you the hug He longs for you to have, and to speak the words He longs for you to hear: HE LOVES YOU!! HE ADORES YOU!!! YOU WERE CREATED FOR A PURPOSE!!
