"Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby. Fill the air with song, you who've never experienced childbirth! You're ending up with far more children than all those childbearing women." God says so! "Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big! Use plenty of rope,drive the tent pegs deep. You're going to need lots of elbow room for your growing family. You're going to take over whole nations; you're going to resettle abandoned cities.
Isaiah 54: 1-6 (The Message)
Isaiah 54: 1-6 (The Message)
This is the word I keeping hearing and reading over and over in the past 5 years. I never really understood fully what it was saying until now! Everyday when I leave my house, from morning to night they are there! The children of God waiting for Him through me to meet their daily needs. It is not always little children but big children of God too! Adults, babies, small kids, big kids, mom's, dad's, entire families who need a father wait for Him whether they realize it or not. God has allowed me to be a mother to so many and I consider it an honor and privilege that He chose me to serve in this very important position.
These few verses are unfolding before my very eyes! Really my heart sings with gratitude at the end of the day for all He allows me to accomplish in one day. New babies are being born every day and the last two months two in particular who now join their parents and siblings at the trash dump. Two days ago a one month old baby sleeps in a old leather luggage in the trash area as her sister's rummage through the trash. It is not an easy sight to see and all the pictures in the world could never describe the spiritual and physical atmosphere. I am ashamed to even take one picture as the thought of exploiting a very critical situation breaks even my heart. However, the joy is, that with your prayers you give me the strength, with your giving you give me opportunity to feed them and with your gifts of clothes and other items you allow me to meet even the basic needs.
Tonight the mom waits in front of my block to ask me for a blanket for the same baby who sleeps in a suitcase. I ask her to please take care of the blanket and keep it clean knowing in my heart she never will. However, the next time she ask me for a blanket I will do my best to try and find another. Isn't this how God is with us? Even if we are not a good steward with what He gives us he still keeps on giving if we ask!
The usually drunk, older lady who sits out on the bench in front of my house always ask me for money or food. I am willing to answer her request for food. Yesterday, I gave her some left over spaghetti. I heated it and put in an empty jar, gave her some bread and a plastic fork and she cried when I gave it to her. She always has a kind word for me and trust me it is unusual as she does not speak so nice to others. My friends who was here this past week took a picture of her and printed it and gave to her and she still has the picture rolled up in her skirt with her most important papers, her life possessions, all rolled up in a skirt.
The kids at the Center are growing fast and even learning! Most know the letters to E and can say a word with each letter. They can play the matching Mickey Mouse card game and they finally (mostly) understand that you can communicate without hitting or spitting. We talk about respect for each other and for God and most days these lessons are manifested in a positive way. They know when they come they must wash their hands and face before entering the class and that it is good to sit in their seats quiet when asked. These are very simple things but trust me it is a huge accomplishment in just a few short months. The victories seem slow and small but I have hope and faith that their hearts will be changed forever.
Our family here is growing bigger by the day! Here the city is divided by a canal, but the bridge that divides also connects. On the 15th of September we will "spread out" and launch a new tent on the other side of the canal. We will dig the tent pegs deep and begin to build another foundation! In partnership with the Baptist Church we will start another program with the kids. The Church will allow us to use their building in a heavy populated Roma "Gypsy" area and begin to teach and feed the kids on the other side of the canal. We will launch this program with 7 German students who will come and work along side us here for 2 weeks. It will have a small beginning, 3 days a week for 2 hours. However small the beginning there is a possibility to feed and teach as many as 50 (or more) children who have abandon school.
"Spread Out and Think Big!"
With God's help we will take this city for Him!
