Hope…

Today was a busy day {and still can’t wait to fill y’all in on the good, amazing…really cool news too…but that’s another post:).

We started our day at Mapalo school. Ran to see little Mumi. And I can’t even express how delighted I am by what I experienced. I spent some time in her home. Her wounds are all almost healed–and her mother informed that SHE is the one that has been treating them! SUCH amazing news–because she didn’t want to treat them before. NOW she sees the medicine I gave her to give her daughter really does work and she trusts me. She was excited to see it work–and wanted to be the one to give it to her. THANKFUL!!!!!

Mumi had no clothes–so I gave her a dress for her to wear, soap to wash her with and detergent for her new dress. I urged her to please let her wear the dress. Often when you give a new item of clothing–they will store it away in a safe place to only wear on a special occasion. I told her that every day is a special occasion for Mumi–and to please let her wear the dress every day. We put shoes on her sweet little feet…and her mother got on her knees in thanksgiving. I explained that it is NOT from us-but absolutely thanksgiving to Him alone. We shared more time together–and I am seeing that her mom is beginning to see value in her little one as she sees how much the Lord and how much we also value her.

HOPE.

How I wish this was my home…but it is not. For now–the Lord only has me here for a couple of weeks…but oh how I could live here. Instead, we encourage. We love. We give. And we have to HOPE.

Then she came around the corner. Another little girl at the age of 10. Last week, she ran away from her home because her cousin was beating her there. This is quite common when a family takes in a niece or nephew and the cousins do not find the humor in having to share their one bedroom home, little food and hardly any clothing. So, when the uncle was not home. They beat her.

Feeling unwelcome, this sweet 10 year old–beautiful soul–ran to find a place in the streets. For 3 nights she slept in the streets. And for 3 nights…3 men have abused her in ways that makes me want to SCREAM. I had the honor to tell her how beautiful she is today. How much God loves her. And how we want to help her.

I met with our children’s pastor–urging her to counsel her. To love her. To look out for her. To dream with us solutions or ideas for children like this one. Us Americans…can’t always come over with our solutions. But we challenge them to come up with solutions that we can partner in them with-support them-fund them-and work together to love the children on.

I often hear different circles of people in adoption circles or not for adoption scream about preserving family. This is not always the best option. So, we suggested this girl have a safer home to live in. One where she is loved, cared for and protected. Getting her relinquished–wasn’t hard. The uncle was thankful. And this sweet girl is now in a safe home. For now. A little bit of HOPE.

But there are so many like Mumi and Ruth.

SO MANY.

SO MANY.

So many.

The other night, I was so frustrated as I tried to take in their stories…and many other stories just like them. I told my team about Almaz…our son’s orphanage director in Ethiopia…as I was overwhelmed and trying to leave…how she grabbed me through my tears and looked me in the eye and said, “I see you want to save Ethiopia. But you can not. That is not what God has called you to do. Now go. Go be this boy’s mother.”

I have to leave all of this at the cross. And I have to believe He is enough. That He will call many others…even many others in the village itself to be the hands and feet of Christ in caring for orphans and widows here and throughout the world.

Once again–my eyes have been opened. I am reminded…I was NOT made for that nice 2 story house with a basement that I live in back home. I was not made to enjoy my cup of Starbucks with a friend. I was not made to live for me. I just wasn’t. And I can’t.

Life is just too short. And unfortunately–if believers all over the world do not radically give…radically go…radically send–then too, too many of children like Ruth and Mumi…may have lives that are just way too short too.

Tomorrow is another full day…and I’m thankful.