I can't sleep tonight. Today was awesome, but my mind just keeps wandering to the streets outside of our hostel.
My mind keeps wandering back to the lady with the baby that she told me was named Five and that he was hungry and I can't sleep.
My mind keeps wandering to our friend Lin and his mom that sell cards on the street and how he regularly tells us that he doesn't sell a single card in one day and I can't sleep.
My mind keeps wandering to the little girl in the polka dotted dress selling flowers that had a speech impediment so severe that she couldn't form words and I can't sleep.
My mind keeps wandering to the little girl with Down's syndrome and her mom from last night. She ran into my arms and then Joe's and then David's and finally pulled us all into a group hug as her mom begged us to buy just one pack of gum… And I can't sleep.
My mind keeps wandering to Loi, the man that sells sunglasses day in and day out and usually makes less than $5 in a day and I can't sleep.
My mind keeps wandering to the girls on the streets that don't know a different life than the one of shame that they are living and don't know or feel the kind of love that they deserve and I can't sleep.
My mind keeps wandering to the girl I met today that works at a factory in the morning and goes to high school at night just to make ends meet and I can't sleep.
My mind keeps wandering to the man in the wheel chair on the street with wounds all over his leg that look like they never heal and I can't sleep.
My mind keeps wandering to the people that maneuver the streets with just their hands and I can't sleep.
My mind keeps wandering to the people that pass out flyers and call people to come into bars and how 90% of the people that walk past them don't notice them and I can't sleep….
God, I just pray that you cover these people with Your love. I pray that You cover them with protection. I pray that You bless them and provide for them. I pray that You send people to them. I pray, God, that they come to know You and that they know Your heart for them. I pray that You use us to give these people that we see everyday a glimpse of Your love and kingdom and that the glimpse they see sparks a desire to know You. I pray that in knowing You, they find hope. In knowing You, Jesus, they see more light than darkness in their lives. I pray that joy stirs in their hearts. God, these are Your children and though they may not know You yet, I thank you for pursuing them.
Your love never fails. It never gives up. It never runs out. It knows no boundaries. It's higher than I can see, deeper than I can imagine, and wider than I could ever reach. You are keeping me awake to pray for Your children, God, and I thank you for that. Jesus, You break my heart every single day as I walk the streets. I thank you for opening my eyes to see what You see and I thank you for my broken heart.
Lead me as I walk the streets. Guide me, Father. Use me to spread Your love. Push my heart.
Thank you, Jesus.
