The thing about our ministry here is that it really never ends. There are always 9 or more boys running around, 25 of us, usually a couple babies, and our 3 ministry contacts. The hardest thing for me to understand is why these kid’s parents don’t care that their children live here, why they don’t call them, and why they don’t come to see them. The kids that live here are in need of so much love and attention and are so hungry for someone to pour into them. But the truth is that their parents don’t have the time, energy, or resources to care. Life is easier with one less mouth to feed, less chaotic with one less child to discipline, and simpler with caring for one less person.
These kids aren’t loved, or cherished, or supported, and that’s not okay.
Just the other night one of the boys Luis asked if had a dad. This was the first time I’ve ever been asked that question, and that’s when I realized that having a dad here is not the norm. Here it seems that dads come and go, boyfriends come and go, and the women are always pregnant. It breaks my heart that dysfunctional relationships and multiple “baby daddies” has become the norm.
Most of these kids don’t have dads in their lives, and that’s not okay.
I sat with a homeless man yesterday in the town center and he was flipping through a magazine he found. On the back cover was a terribly staged picture of a white family standing in the kitchen making dinner. He must have stared at that picture for 5 minutes while muttering “what a beautiful family”. Then he turned to me and asked if I had a family. That hit me hard. Here I am with every blessing in the world, and this man is all alone with no parents and a brother that won’t associate with him.
That man has no one, and that’s not okay.
Here there is such a need for Jesus. He needs to be a dad, a mom, a sibling, a friend, food for the day, protection, comfort, joy, everything. Here there is no one or nothing else to depend on, only Jesus.
I am humbled that he has chosen me to be his likeness, to love orphans, to hold broken women, and laugh with my brothers and sisters. Every single thing that we have is a gift; nothing should be taken for granted. I have been blessed to love, and to serve, and to cultivate joy.
I have been blessed to bless, and I am so thankful to be his daughter.
