Have you ever felt as though you didn't deserve to be
accepted into a community so freely? Those who have gone on missions trips can
perhaps relate to what I mean by that statement. I will further explain what I
mean by this statement, hoping you can understand somewhat.
This was the first day we could “sleep” in as breakfast was
at eight and we didn't need to get up until seven. I started my day earlier, as
was routine, at five! Although I was tired, I couldn't sleep any longer than
that. But starting off one’s day early, comes with advantages, such as more
quiet places available for prayer and meditation on God’s Word.
After breakfast, we loaded one of the buses with 400 food
bags, TOMS shoes, chairs, tables, and few other things that we needed for the
day.
Before we headed to
Jurgallon (at least I think that is how you spell it J), we stopped at Pueblo Del
Rio, the village where
Thomas Road Baptist Church(TRBC) has been working on various projects. For a
long time, no one really knew that this village existed, as it is near a river which
is well hidden. The bus was parked at about a twenty-minute walking distance
from the village. Drawing closer to the village, we saw people and children all
peeking out of their windows, with curiosity. At first, there weren’t too many children
in sight, but as we walked into the church that was built by TRBC, children
started coming, mostly with just siblings, but also some with their mothers. We
took advantage of this opportunity to give out stuffed toys, candy, bubbles,
crayons with colored paper, and other little things we brought for the
children. To watch their faces receiving these gifts was priceless. Each child
attempted to grab as much as they could, as you can see in these photos below.
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| Water well at Pueblo Del Rio |
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| Inside the church TRBC built |
After finishing giving out what we can, we started walking back. As we
walked towards a “little hill”, we had to wait for cattle to walk by before we
could continue onto our destination. What a scene it was! Never coming across anything like this, it
definitely caught us off guard!
Once we got to Jurgallon, we witnessed people waiting for the food and shoe
distribution. Our team was broken into three groups, some helping with the food
distribution, some giving out shoes, and others washing feet. Since our team
was bigger, we had to switch off on some things. At first I got to wash
children’s feet, as it was mentioned in another blog I wrote earlier, but after
I switched off with other team members I had some time to communicate with the
locals, or attempt to with as much Spanish as I knew. Before I could find some
children to chat with, a little girl that found me first. When I say she found
me, it almost felt like she choose me. Or maybe it was God that let her choose
me in order to break my heart for what breaks His.
See what I didn’t realize till later was that I washed one of the girl’s friend’s feet. The girl that broke my heart is the girl in the blue, as you see in the picture.
The girl in the white, was the girl who’s feet I washed. They were sitting
next to each other as I washed one of their feet and Robin (another lady on our
team) washed the girls feet that is in the blue color shirt. Though I asked her
name, I couldn't remember what-so-ever since there were about four of the girls
standing around and I couldn't remember each child’s name! But what I did
remember was her age and how many brothers and sisters she has. She is thirteen
with 7 siblings, 5 brothers, 2 sisters, and her. These girls just continued
hugging me to the point where I thought I’d lose my balance! :) I cherished these moments with
them, but time came when we needed to load the buses back up. As we were doing
that, the girl in the blue carried boxes with me and helped with loading
everything up! She remained around me and wasn't ready to leave my side. While walking
back to the bus, she walked along with me, clinging tightly to me. My heart was
not ready to leave, nor to leave this little new friend I had made. Even as I
got onto the bus, she searched for me, and when her friend first spotted me,
she pointed her in my direction. I waved to her and she continued waving back
to me. My heart broke for her to the point where tears started streaming down
my face. As I was watched her, as the bus started pulling away, she too, was
wiping tears away. These recollections, still bring tears to my eyes each time,
because as I previously stated, it was as she that choose me. This stands as a
reminder for me that, this is the way in which God chooses us. He choose us to
serve Him, and He chooses us to go on
such trips for a reason. Also as He chooses us, when people stray from
Him, it breaks His heart more than we know. If this situation broke my heart as
much as it did, I can’t imagine how much His heart breaks for His beloved
children, who choose to fill their desires rather than serve Him.
After having lunch, and coming back to Hope of Life, we were asked to paint
the baby rescue center while the children spent the afternoon outside. We again
split into two teams. Being in the first group, we painted inside the biggest
room at the baby rescue center, then we switched off with the second group that
finished painting the hallways. As we waited for the second group to finish,
we got to play with the children outside. Most of the time, I got to hold
Esperanza! What a precious child she is!
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| Painting the Baby Rescue Center |
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| Jenri and a friend overlooking :) |
After finishing up, we had to clean up swiftly, as we were heading over to
the Orphanage for a pizza/ piñata party! When we got there, I went straight to
the upstairs area which can be classified as their “play area”. I spotted a boy
towards the back, laying alone trying to watch a movie that was on for the
kids. I went over to him right away, starting asking him questions and also
just trying to break him out of his “shell”, which I love doing! This boy’s
name is Carlos, who is nine years old. I asked him if I can take a picture with
him, and he said only one… So we took this one.
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| Well a picture on my camera, at least one.. |
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| And a picture on my phone with him! |
I tried to play
with him a bit more, but he was too shy. So I showed him that I was going
downstairs where the tables were so he knew where to find me, if he decided to
join. As soon as I walk down and sat down, about two minutes later, he came
running down the stairs towards me! My heart melted! As he sat on my lap and we
spent time together drawing. We then proceeded to the playground with him; as
we were running around, my heart was captured! My heart ached knowing that this
boy has no family. He is an orphan. It was breaking me inside, but in that
moment God reminded me that He was giving me this opportunity to show him love
as the He has first loved us.
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| My favorite picture of all times! |
Funny thing was that as we spent more time
together he wanted to take so much more pictures with me and then also with him
showing me a heart, and then telling me that was for me. How can your heart not
melt? I got to meet few other kids that I fell in love with. They are such
precious children that have huge hearts as well. Once time came to leave, it was
hard once again, with the kids that were around me most of the night, hugging
me not once or twice, but many many times, it was difficult.
Walking away to
the bus, a team member mentioned to me, that after seeing me all day connecting
with children from everywhere, he said “you’re just a magnet to them, they love
you.” I started tearing up once again because I really fell in love with all
the children that I met through the day, and my heart broke that I was leaving
them. What I wrote that evening about the day was, “I’m honestly not ready to
go back and really don’t want too…” It is hard knowing that you have to leave,
but once again there is that hope knowing you will be back one day soon! One
thing that, every time I drove in the yellow bus or see one that passes me now,
my heart breaks from these moments, remembering the looks on the children’s
faces as we were leaving. My heart is forever changed.
As the day ended,
once again we got together for devotions, and also talked about what God revealed
to us, or what has made us think. One of the girls mentioned how when we went
into Pueblo Del Rio, the children who came to us seemed, as though they were
cleaned up for us. The parents tried to dress them in their best. It made me
think, who are we? It is not as though we are famous or special in any way, but
yet they tried dressing their best, to represent themselves well. We were
accepted into this community so well. They didn't have to try their best, but
they did. This is what I was referring to that sometimes when you are accepted
into a community, you may feel as though you don’t deserve it.
Stay tuned for next time for more about the baby rescues, feeding center at the dump, as well as other mission trip events. God’s blessing to you all!
Feel free to comment or ask questions, I can always try to answer them :)
“Greater love has no one
than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
