This week, a lot has been on my heart.
This week we found out that we will not be continuing our ministry with Lifting Hands next month. The only reason for this is that its simply a scheduling conflict. i was shocked by the sadness I was struck with when we were first told we would be switching ministries. I was shocked because I never knew I would become so attached and moved by a place we only go to for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week.
When we were first assigned to lifting hands, my team and i’s initial reaction was doubt. To be really honest, we didn’t see how we could make a difference in a place where we would spend such little time, and the time we do spend there is spent playing with kids we could barely talk to. We were constantly filled with the question of “what are we doing here?”
I was also shocked because despite the doubt and questioning, we have fallen in love with Lifting Hands.
The volunteers, teachers, and kids have moved us. the few hours we’ve spent coloring, playing board games, and fumbling through conversations have created relationships that we cherish. The volunteers are our friends! Like, really our friends! Friends that we will miss, but always remember.
This past week we had the privilege of hearing the testimony of one of the strongest woman I have ever met; Julie. Julie is a woman who runs the used clothing store in Lifting Hands, but she is so much more than that. She is the heart of the ministry, embodying their core beliefs and shining a bright light in the community. All wold agree that to know her is to love her.
As she shared her story of growing up in abusive foster homes, battling alcoholism, being trapped in prostitution and an abusive marriage, we were all moved to tears. This woman has truly been through hell and back, yet here she is everyday, hugging us and loving us. Julie fought to become sober, and became a role model for women struggling with the same life style. As she grew into a loving mother and beacon for empowering women, she was asked to work at Lifting Hands.
This is where Julie first experienced true love, and where she now reflects that love towards everyone who walks through the door. The kind of love comes from one guy and one guy only. (((Jesus)))
As Julie finished sharing her story with us, she began telling us how grateful she was for us. For US. She told us how she could not even believe people like us existed. She said we made a difference at Lifting Hands. She encouraged us to continue planting seeds of love everywhere we go.
So uhh ya. We were wrong. those few hours we spent doing what we thought was pointless work, work that was not sharing the gospel, work that would not make a difference, did exactly that. we were quickly struck with the realization that maybe just showing up is enough.
When we show up, so does Jesus. Even in the mundane and simple. He’s there, he’s working. How could we even doubt that??? As if he would actually put us somewhere where He wouldn’t do anything.
Lamentations 3:22 says “The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.”
Key word never !!!!
So thats going on my list of goals for the race. Just show up. It’s enough.
as we enter our last week at Lifting Hands, my prayer is that the Lord would continue to water the seeds we have panted. I pray that we would continue to make these kids feel known and loved. I pray that we would leave mark on the ministry, that they would remember us for the way we loved them.
We now have a new ministry to look forward to! It’d be mega sweet if you could be praying for our net ministry. We don’t know what it is yet, but please pray that we can continue to leave our doubts and expectations behind as we step further into what the Lord has for us here.
thank you for the continued support!! i love you!!!
-paige
