After days of endless planning and scheduling it was finally time to put on a 3 day kids camp for the orphans that lived on the compound. We were working with young adults anywhere between 16-21 years old and I was so excited to meet all the young adults we would be working with for the next few days. They slowly trickled onto to the basketball court with hardened exteriors. I had expected that and figured they needed to see a friendly face and a little conversation and they would warm up. BOY WAS I WRONG!!! For the first 2 hour session they ignored us and gave what we would call in the states a “cold shoulder.” They weren’t engaged in anything we did! This was not what I had planned! Inside I felt so defeated and I wanted to give up right there. We still had 8 sessions left and I didn’t know how I was going to make it. All I wanted was for them to feel loved, important, and special.
After lunch I remember laying in bed trying to regain some energy to make it through the next two sessions when I thought of one girl specifically being so cold that when I asked her for her name she turned her back to me. I asked her if she wanted to chat with me and she turned around and in a bold voice said, “No, I don’t want to talk to you. Go away!” It was as if she was daring me to love her. I spent some time just talking to Jesus and asking him, “Why are they so resistant? Why are they refusing the love we have to offer? What do I do now?” Jesus knew exactly how I felt because there were so many times I had treated him the same way. He wanted to pour out His love on me and have fun with me and I in return gave him the cold shoulder. He never gave up though! He kept trying time and time again to love me and wait for me to turn around and accept His invitation. Talk about a wake up call with the Lord! I knew what I had to do. Love these young adults with no expectations and keep pressing in no matter what.
I walked back onto the basketball court for the afternoon session still feeling down but deciding I was going to press in no matter how I felt. I continued to try to talk to the girls which many conversations were me talking to myself but I was going to give up. A few were dancing to music so I moved by the speaker and tried to learn their moves which made them laugh but I didn’t care they saw I existed and that was enough for me. As we went through the afternoon I started noticing more kids wanting to join in and fewer kids sitting on the sidelines. I learned a few of the girl’s names. Something was happening. Over the next few days walls were broken down and these girls began to embrace me and accept me openly.
Remember that girl I told you about who told me she didn’t want to talk to me…… Her name was Sonja and she was still cold but I was not giving up. I kept saying her name anytime I saw her and would compliment her cute clothes and accessories. Tuesday night we have church so all us head down to the church and I saw all my girls and guess what they waved and said my name!! I walked over and they invited me to sit with them for church and I was on cloud nine. Sonja sat in the row in front of me and she was starting to smile back at me anytime I said her name. She had a note pad and she was doodling a little during church. She gave me a note at the end of church and it said “I love you” with a giant heart!!! WHAT!! This girls who I thought hated my guts the day before loves me because I took the time to just love her with no expectations. I showed everyone back at our dorm that night like a proud parent.
I want you to think about people you encounter in your life who aren’t easy to love. Do you avoid them or give them a fake conversation hoping they leave? My friends Jesus never gave up on you and He still isn’t giving up on you. Jesus loves us unconditionally and no matter what we do He will still feel the same way about us. Jesus calls us to love each other in the same way! Is it hard? Absolutely! Do you think it was easy loving girls who kept rolling their eyes at me and walking away every time I came by? No, it was not an easy task but even on days where I couldn’t physically see a change there was a change going on inside of them which ended up coming out. Don’t give up on those people who are hard to love. Jesus doesn’t give up us and we shouldn’t give up on each other. Try loving someone today who you would normal give the cold should too and see what happens.
