There are many.
Hundreds.
They are important.
They are:
- The mothers who stand in front of their clay homes, with tears of desperation, praying their sons won’t fall as deeply into the trap of drunkenness as their husbands and fathers have.
- The toddlers who came to get their sponsorship meal for the week, who haven’t been bathed in weeks because their mother is pregnant, alone and too weak to do so.
- The older siblings who carry around their baby brothers or sisters while their mother is at the market trying to sell what little crop actually grew on their parched land.
- The teenagers who walked miles to a well carrying 50 pounds of water on their heads so that their family can eat, drink and bathe.
- The disabled I passed skating across the road on a scooter with no legs and actual flip flops on their hands to protect what skin is already torn and battered from more wear and tare.
- The young muslim boy who came to the steps of a house we were staying in for two nights while visiting a village who invited Jesus into his heart and was scared of his family disowning him.
- The orphans who had escaped abuse and neglect in the government institution still learning how to interact with people who actually care about them.
- The kids whose health was declining because of the lack of medical education in the area.
- The wives who only get to see their husbands every two years because they are off working in another country to provide for their family
- The street kids who have no choice but to walk the polluted streets of their city searching for ways to get money.
- A daughter traveling village to village sharing the joy she has through laughter and smile- a joy that was once defeated by sexual assault
The mothers were encouraged and prayed over.
The filthy children were scrubbed head to toe.
The older siblings loads were carried.
The orphans were loved.
The sick kids were helped.
The street kids were held.
I’m not quite sure why I wasn’t able to share all of these moments in the moment.
Maybe it’s because I wanted the moment to be about them and when I spent time typing, I felt like it was more about me.
Maybe it’s because as often as I thought I was there to give something to them- they actually gave more to me.
Maybe it’s because I wanted to share the heart of Jesus with them and they actually showed me what that looked like.
The maybes could go on and on, but what I do know is that there is a reason you are now hearing about the ones you haven’t heard about.
In all of these experiences what I actually saw wasn’t what I expected.
There was suffering, but they showed hope.
There was injustice, but they had peace.
There was pain, but they found healing.
There was weakness, but they found strength.
There was nothing, but they were generous.
There was poverty, but they were rich.
What I saw in them is what many of us lack- finding happiness in what we already have.
What I saw were people dependent on God, not technology, healthcare, education, or careers.
What I saw were lives dedicated to the people around them– neighbors, friends, family, the church, and even me (a complete stranger).
The ones you haven’t heard about have faced circumstances that many of us will never have to face.
They’ve shown me what’s important isn’t our actual circumstances.
What’s important is how we face our circumstances.
They believed instead of blamed.
They forgave instead of fought.
They had faith instead of fear.
They are the ones you’ve now heard about because they are the ones I couldn’t forget.
XOXO
Tay
[Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you I have called you by name;
you are mine.
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you . . . you are precious to Me.
You are honored, and I love you.]
Isaiah 43: 1–2, 4
