I have been in Arkansas a few days shy of a week and have only been working for two days. These last two days have been filled with various emotions. In certain moments I've wondered why I came- I'm not near my family, friends, and these hours are absolutely nuts. Then I have an hour long conversation with one of the girls who is here because she is hurting, because she wants to move beyond her problems and ultimately fall into the very arms of Jesus. Its in these moments that I am thankful for this opportunity. To speak into her life. To encourage her through her battle and remind her how sweet victory really is. This is when it all makes sense. This is why.
We also had a banquet tonight and they played a slide show of the kids from the children's homes. These kids are here because their parents died, did not treat them right or abandoned them all together. My heart broke and I had to hold back tears as each of their pictures came across the screen. Knowing that most of these kids will never know the love of their parents and have to live with the stigma of growing up in an "orphanage". However, soon after I held back my tears for a completely different reason as their stories were told. Stories of triumphs, accomplishments, and hearing their dreams and what they are doing to accomplish them. They told a story about one of the girls giving her testimony to a thousand of her peers and proclaiming the hope she has in Christ (she will be attending Evangel next fall). They told another story about a girl who came here cold towards God and how she has accepted Christ and has done a 180 and has even attended leadership conferences and earned scholarships. And when they told us one of the girls couldn't be at the banquet because she was homecoming queen at her high school... I almost lost it.
I know I'm in America- but I can't help but keep thinking I'm on a missions trip. But- what a mission field these kids and young girls are. Those houseparents who take care of those kids are truly doing the work of Jesus and I admire it greatly.
Lord, always be my strength!!
