As I’ve been working with the girls of EFP, I’ve been able to connect with them in several circumstances. Sometimes our sessions don’t go very deep, and that’s okay. We talk about movies or the highlight of their week, or what color they’re going to paint their nails.
But sometimes, we dive.
The other day, for instance, the girls told me about how many girls in the village are getting pregnant because they believe the world is coming to an end. These girls are around 11 years old. They said men are bad and can’t be trusted. “They’ll hurt you.”
I realized this was my chance, I needed to make a plug for the men who have Christ in their heart and aren’t bad. Before I began my rant, I started with the fact that women can be bad too. I don’t believe it’s fair to them if I didn’t balance out the playing field. Then I talked about men of Christ, and more importantly, love. I explained to them, that just like them, I was not raised by my parents. But my sister and her now husband were able to show me love. The progression of love. The act of love. The purity of love.
The girls asked if they had a baby before marriage. I told them they were together a long time before getting married and have been married for four years now and haven’t had a baby yet.
Note: I also added they’re waiting for me to come home to have a baby because some might say Renee is abrasive, but I would cater to her every need willingly. Anyways…
They asked me what their wedding was like and I said, “why don’t I show you!”
So, as well huddled together in a dim classroom trying to keep each other warm on a rainy day, we watched a love story travel from California to Honduras. They oohed and awed at her beautiful and his handsomeness. They were giddy by their tender love and laughed at their small kisses. When the video was over, they locked me in the room so I would keep telling them more about this love story.
“It’s not like the ones you read in books. It’s continuous. It’s kind. It’s gentle. It’s patient, and it’s fun.”
My prayer for these girls is that they can meet men will pure hearts filled with Christ. That they will have the ability to discern these men from the rest, and when they meet their love will be continuous, kind, gentle, patient, and fun.
Love knows no language. Love travels. Love goes where you go. It’s a translation of one.
Renee and Steve. Not only have you been a beautiful story and example for Anthony and I, but you’re now changing the hearts and minds of these girls. Thank you for your love. 
