We have spent about 4 days here in Santa Cruz, Bolivia touring the Nacer Children’s Homes.
We are learning a little about the vision of this ministry and more importantly the lives and stories of the boys and girls in the homes.
I can say honestly that I often take family for granted. I take for granted the simple blessing of having a mom and dad.
Or for that matter, having even one relative that loves me.
A lot of the children that I have been privileged enough to meet
do not have these things.
They have been abandoned, abused, and often just plain ignored.
Treated like a hassle, like an animal, or something that can just be discarded and picked up again later at a more convenient time.
As I stroke one of the little boys hair,
I find it hard to connect the fact that the same little sweetheart who buries his face into my side is the main character of a story that haunts me.
A story of neglect and pain.
A story still with an unknown ending.
As we kick around a soccer ball and play a game of leap frog;
the smiles, standoffishness, and the longing glisten in the eyes of these children
speak of their longing for
acceptance, love, and identity.
How is it that I can fall in love with these boys and girls when I haven’t even known them for 24 hours?
I want to know them so much more then time permits….and yet I can’t.
Homes like the Nacer homes are a tremendous blessing. They take children in and provide for their physical needs and provide even on top of that….as much as resources allow.
However with so many boys and girls at each home you can imagine the need for discipleship.
Not all of these children have relationships with the LORD, or even want them, but there is need for Godly men and women who are willing to devote themselves to pouring the love, grace, and wisdom into these kids. The ‘kids’ I speak of are not really always kids. Especially with the boys homes, many of them are in their 20’s,
and a handful are even older then that.
So men of God, I speak to you.
Where are you and what are you doing?
Are you still concerned with the things of this world.
Please tell me you aren’t still playing video games when there is real work to be done.
You have the Spirit of the Living God inside of you….what are you doing with it?
You were made to follow in the steps of your Savior…
with power, authority, and humbleness.
Women of God, I speak to you.
What are you spending your time and affections on?
Do you know your identity in Christ and the power of the God that lives inside of you?
Do you know that there are children who need you to speak life into them…
…who actually long for it?
Why are you so concerned with the beauty of your face and attire, if during this process the beauty of your soul is dying and wasting away.
What are you doing that is making a difference for the kingdom of God?
You were made for more.
