it was warm outside. a dry, hot night that caused me to spend my evening sitting outside my room. taking in Africa for the last week. soaking in the sights and smells.
the boys had just used my soap {the one that smells like sunflowers} and the showers were filling the compound with a sweet aroma. they were wet and tired after a LONG night of soccer.
i have come to learn when teenage boys get tired, they get mad. and when they get mad they act stupidly.
a rock thrown on the hard ground startled me and caused me to look up. and there it was.
the boys. the boys without parents of their own. the boys who call each other brothers. the boys who are desperate for love and affection.
the boys were on the ground. fist to fist. face to face. tirelessly shoving one another. hitting one another. kicking one another.
quickly the adults ran to seperate them while i was alone. in my thoughts. and severely praying for peace among them.
tears flowing. hot tears kept flowing and i couldn't make them stop.
they were screaming things in amharic. hurtful things. about how they were both unwanted. that their parents threw them away. that even the food they eat was not theirs.
these boys fought. why? because hurt people hurt other people.
and then. it hits me.
why am i sitting here in tough, hard, exhausting spiritual warfare for one more week?
why am i missing home like crazy and killing mosquitoes every minute of every day?
love. the reason is love.
i love these boys DEEPLY. God loves them even more. and He wants them to know that.
to feel His presence. to feel secure in His love. to know that He is their defender when no one else is there to defend them.
so desperately, i wait.
i wait on the day to leave. i anxiously await seeing my sister's face. but more importantly i cover this country in sweet prayers, desperately wanting THESE kids to be the change. to be the ones to bring Him fame here.
love. love is always the reason.
And let us consider this: may we spur one another towards acts of LOVE. Hebrews 10:24.
the boys had just used my soap {the one that smells like sunflowers} and the showers were filling the compound with a sweet aroma. they were wet and tired after a LONG night of soccer.
i have come to learn when teenage boys get tired, they get mad. and when they get mad they act stupidly.
a rock thrown on the hard ground startled me and caused me to look up. and there it was.
the boys. the boys without parents of their own. the boys who call each other brothers. the boys who are desperate for love and affection.
the boys were on the ground. fist to fist. face to face. tirelessly shoving one another. hitting one another. kicking one another.
quickly the adults ran to seperate them while i was alone. in my thoughts. and severely praying for peace among them.
tears flowing. hot tears kept flowing and i couldn't make them stop.
they were screaming things in amharic. hurtful things. about how they were both unwanted. that their parents threw them away. that even the food they eat was not theirs.
these boys fought. why? because hurt people hurt other people.
and then. it hits me.
why am i sitting here in tough, hard, exhausting spiritual warfare for one more week?
why am i missing home like crazy and killing mosquitoes every minute of every day?
love. the reason is love.
i love these boys DEEPLY. God loves them even more. and He wants them to know that.
to feel His presence. to feel secure in His love. to know that He is their defender when no one else is there to defend them.
so desperately, i wait.
i wait on the day to leave. i anxiously await seeing my sister's face. but more importantly i cover this country in sweet prayers, desperately wanting THESE kids to be the change. to be the ones to bring Him fame here.
love. love is always the reason.
And let us consider this: may we spur one another towards acts of LOVE. Hebrews 10:24.
1 comment:
Ivy, as I read this on the elliptical machine this morning, it have me chills and sent hot tears streaming down my face also. your words and the truths that God has hidden in your heart never cease to amaze me and enlighten me and show me that there is so much more put there than what we experience here in day tobday life. continually praying for you and the work God is doing through you. Thank you so much for sharing. In His Name, Crystal Collins
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