Day Three- Our Father

July 5, 2011

Like I said, bracelet making was a HIT. This was my first bracelet. I was pretty proud. 

Everyone made fun of it and said it was terrible...One word: Whatevs 

I like to wake up early to read scriptures, or a christian book, and just spend time with God. The following are scriptures that I came across this morning. God was speaking and I was taking notes. 

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of windows, is God in His holy dwelling"

-Psalms 68:5

"I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord God Almighty."

-2 Corinthians 5:18

"Trust in Him at all times, O People; Pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge"

- Psalms 62:8

My Prayer:

"O God, you are my God,

 earnestly I seek you;

 my soul thirsts for you,

 my body longs for you,

 in a dry and weary land where there is no water" 

-Psalms 63:1

God, I pray today you will reveal yourself to me in this weary place. Show me where you want my prayers. Show me hope. Prepare my heart God to understand. Prepare my heart. Let me it open to what you have to say. Prepare the hearts of the children we will see today, so that they might hear your truth. Let us be your servants, carrying out your will. Because above all else, it's YOU we seek and YOU we serve. Let us bring your water of eternal life into the dry and weary land.

Rich or poor, God I want you more.

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Each day feels so long. It feels like each day gets longer. In the back of my mind I know that this week will be over before I know it. Then what. Don't want to think about it. Not yet. We're granted such a short amount of time here. What can we do with it? How will we use it?

I shared my testimony with the high school kids at the public school. It was the first time I was ever really nervous to share it. I knew I had to be honest. I knew I was going to have to include all the details. Center stage, center of the court yard. I couldn't help but wonder how many of the people I was from JVBC with had ever heard the full story. I usually give a summary: I was in some bad stuff but God got me out of it. 

I had to follow Lindsay. Hearing the pain in her voice, at the remembrance of losing someone in her family, wrenched my heart. The pain of loosing someone was one I was familiar with. Before I knew it, she was done, and it was my turn.

I shared my story in only leaving out a few details. I started crying as I tried to explain how much my JVBC family meant to me, and that the people who are in my life now, are the most amazing, and loving people I've ever met in my entire life.

As if that wasn't bad enough. (By that I mean crying in front of a bunch of high school kids)

When I went to rub my eye. Instead of relief I was confronted with intense burning. "Owh, OWH. IT BURNS, seriously, I'm not crying anymore, IT BURNS!" Suddenly I remembered using soap that morning to get off left over mascara. The soap was now in my eye. AWESOME.

I pray that the kids, or even just one, heard the hope and second chances that God offers. I pray I said everything he wanted me to say. I pray I planted, or even watered one little seed.

We taught the kids how to make bracelets. They LOVED IT. Kids would come sit next to me and Miguel, poor Miguel, would have to explain what I was doing over and over again. It was amazing how something so simple entertained so many kids. Who needs an Xbox, when you have fun bundled up in every string of a bracelet.

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The orphanage is so...I can't even find words. The little kids are such a source of joy, and the older kids are just victims to the overbearing weight of burdens. Burdens they never asked for. Burdens they did nothing to deserve. 

I prayed soccer with a little boy. He would burst into laughter every time he stole the ball from me. I would laugh as he tried to out trick me with the ball. It's been awhile since I've played, but not that long ;)

Then I retired with the older kids. Only to hear story after story of abuse and neglect. Almost every child had an experience with physical or sexual abuse. Every one tore at my heart.

God is a father to these kids. That's what I keep having to tell myself over and over as I hear their stories. God has not forsaken these children. He is with them, just as he is with us. 

God, I pray for healing in this place.