I have so many thoughts and my heart feels so overwhelmed right now. I just hope I can effectively put those emotions into words.
First of all, you never really understand what you're walking into when you are new to a particular team. GlobalX is amazing in how it has strategically placed itself in many different areas around the world, with many different outreach objectives, all in order to tap into, and best utilize, each of the many different types of gifts of which we have been blessed. Every place and project is so unique. Even with the team building meetings held prior to the actual trip, it is hard to grasp 1) what type of hardships they have been through during their lives that ended up leading them to this home 2) what the connection will be like between them and us 3) their understanding of Jesus 4) how we can strengthen their desire for Him.
Immediately upon entering the children's home, I was able to answer #2. These children wrapped their arms around us, and obviously knew that we were there for them, and we were there with much love to give. They surrounded us with sweet smiles and gave us every reason to feel welcomed in their home.
In keeping with our plan to set up various stations of crafts and sports to create an interactive environment, several of us gathered around a table to make rubber-band bracelets (this clearly wasn't their first rodeo with the bracelet making). As we sat around, casual talk began, and we were lucky enough to have Matt (an American missionary who had moved to Macedonia with his family several years ago) sitting at our table and translating for everyone. One thing led to the next and soon the children were revealing the whereabouts of their families. This talk gave me a lot of answers to question 1. These babies had been through so much darkness. Staring into their sweet faces while they told of such heartbreaking truths about their parents. I couldn't fathom being 12 years old having already faced so much trauma. In that moment, I realized how much our presence mattered, and I was so thankful to be right there with them.
We went through the remainder of our first day warming up more and more to them. They each have such distinctive personalities, but just about all of them are so full of energy and so full of words we wished we could understand.
After spending the day with the children, we went out to dinner with *Elizabeth. I had so many questions stirring around in my mind. I had already learned through Stephanie and Sheyna, who have been on this trip many times, that most of the orphans are Muslim. I just wasn't clear how accepted the name of Jesus was in the government-run orphanage and whether Elizabeth could see the Holy Spirit working through her in communicating God's love to these children. So, we talked. And questions 3 and 4 are now much clearer to me. Only IF and WHEN she's asked, Elizabeth is able to speak of God leading her here to be with these children and all because of His great love for them. She is really their only consistent form of strong emotional connect with an adult, as the orphanage keepers stay somewhat detached from the children. So, through Elizabeth's consistent presence and unwavering love through their many frustrations and aggressive outbursts, she has ingrained a steadfast loyalty with them to which they are not accustomed. We are just the icing on the cake. They think of us as an extension of Elizabeth; a woman who has always been there for them through thick and thin. Without her long term commitment to them, our efforts would not be nearly as impactful. They know we will always visit them twice a year (once in May and once in October), and they trust that we are there because we care about them.
[*sidenote: Elizabeth is an amazing woman of faith who went on a short term trip through GlobalX, just like us, and felt God leading her to Macedonia full-time.]
I am so incredibly grateful to God for not only sending Elizabeth here, but I am especially grateful for her obedience to the calling. She is setting a foundation by being their steady force of love in a confusing world where they have faced so much abandonment. She is the face of Jesus for them; Jesus is shedding light on their darkness through Elizabeth and the many globalX teams that continue to show up. Her impact on their lives will forever change them. I am so blessed to be a small piece of this operation.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16
~Erin Thompson
No comments:
Post a Comment