The title credit goes to my co-leader and friend, Jeff Cook.
It's really the only way to describe this phenomena of meeting and connecting with people, that then ends quickly and with some uncertainty about the future.
Even after experiencing this in the previous 2 years, it still got me. Tears. Tears of so many different emotions. It took awhile this time. I was taking pictures and from my early TV experience I learned to keep a distance behind the camera. That worked until we got in a circle and Teresa prayed for all us. As soon as her voice cracked, so did I. I'm not sure yet if there is tougher vibe at the Orphanage, or if we are now just more aware of what has always been there. I think the increased number of younger kids, both boys and girls has made it feel more desperate, dark and worrisome.
Dustin Kawa though said he saw how soft the kids' hearts are and that therein lies hope.
All these emotions just swirl while you try to make some sense of it all.
I thought today a lot about the verse I chose for this trip. It works on so many levels.
It's really the only way to describe this phenomena of meeting and connecting with people, that then ends quickly and with some uncertainty about the future.
Even after experiencing this in the previous 2 years, it still got me. Tears. Tears of so many different emotions. It took awhile this time. I was taking pictures and from my early TV experience I learned to keep a distance behind the camera. That worked until we got in a circle and Teresa prayed for all us. As soon as her voice cracked, so did I. I'm not sure yet if there is tougher vibe at the Orphanage, or if we are now just more aware of what has always been there. I think the increased number of younger kids, both boys and girls has made it feel more desperate, dark and worrisome.
Dustin Kawa though said he saw how soft the kids' hearts are and that therein lies hope.
All these emotions just swirl while you try to make some sense of it all.
I thought today a lot about the verse I chose for this trip. It works on so many levels.
Deuteronomy 24:19
19 “When you are harvesting your crops and forget to bring in a bundle of grain from your field, don’t go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all you do.
Literally we actually only planted a few peppers, but we worked with an Albanian, Muslim farmer and his grandson on creating these huge greenhouses to create food or cash crops for orphans. What I think we did is actually leave a bit of ourselves there. Hopefully, these are Jesus follower behaviors that send a positive message from today forward about Christians, Americans even family members to our friends in Skopje.
We are taking back so much in the way of compassion, thankfulness but especially the bonds of our shared experiences as a team. I hope God continues to bless us as he has once again on this trip.
Some wonderful photos to post tomorrow morning, stay tuned.
amen.
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