A couple of weeks ago, Love & Hope Children’s Home welcomed the first team of 2014, a group of five women from Ohio who helped us prepare for the new school year. The team was an instant hit with the kids. One of the team members, Sarah, stayed an extra week, helped with our most recent quinceañera (check back soon for a blog about it), and was able to reconnect with her sponsored child, Daniela, who she first met almost nine years ago on another short-term mission trip. By permission of Sarah, below are excerpts from her blog, her thoughts from before leaving Ohio until returning home about two weeks later.
“By the grace of God, someone within the airline gave each person on our team an extra bag free of charge. Very cool way to see God’s hand at work! We are able to take down an additional 300 pounds of school supplies, clothes, shoes, toiletries, crafts, games, hair supplies, decorations, nail polishes, birthday gifts, kitchen supplies, etc.”
“I am personally just getting so excited in anticipation for the different amazing experiences that are about to forever change lives of others and my own.”
“The weather here is perfect and the scenery everywhere is incredible. Breath-taking. The scents and the sights – just taking it all in.”
“We did a game night with the kids that was so much fun I can’t even explain the roaring laughs and shouts that filled the backyard of Love and Hope! I sat and thought about all of the hurt and damage these children have been through and yet the simple ways that God reveals joy in these children’s lives, which in return is a continuing of healing. It’s really incredible to experience it first hand.”
“You know, I just really want to share with you all that God is not only using me to do work for others, but he is doing a work in me as well. I feel such an urge to really start answering God’s calling of who I am to be in Him. To be set apart. ‘Look up. Not around.’”
“My feelings (about leaving) seem to be more bitter than sweet. I feel like a part of my heart was captured by each and every one of those precious children and as much as I got to be the helping hand. The children seemed to help my heart in seeing hope in healing.
“It is so refreshing to see the body of Christ at work: from photographers coming down to capture the day (the quinceañera), to people volunteering time and energy to make this day special. It is pretty cool to see that first hand, being a part of serving wherever God takes you, and the overflow of joy that comes from this!”
Psalm 119:35-37
“Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find my delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”
Thanks Sarah, Lisa, Jennifer, Mama Kathy and Kathy for being such a blessing to Love & Hope Children’s Home. Your presence was a wonderful treat and your hard work in preparing for school was indispensable!