A few years ago Zach and I volunteered with a ministry in Fort Wayne that serves International Refugees and Immigrants from Burma, Sudan, and many other countries of the world. I watched the children while Zach helped the adults with their English and Computer skills. As I think back it makes me sad that I didn't appreciate the opportunity as much as I should have. Zion was a baby and then a young toddler and some Monday nights I struggled to go because I was overwhelmed by my adjustment to being a new mom and then being pregnant with Moriah. After Moriah was born I had the opportunity to teach a parenting class to some of the ladies through my work at Gateway Woods Family Services. My goal was to teach the ladies what was expected of parents living in America, to help them to avoid any contact with our local child protection agency. My guess is that if the language barrier wasn't there most of the women could have taught me more about parenting and life than I taught them. From what I know of the countries where many of them come from many of them were (and are) survivors of situations I have only read about: war, abuse, rape, refugee camps, starvation, poverty, displacement, religious persecution, loss of family members and homes(the list could go on and on). My heart aches for the pain and loss they have experienced. I wonder if they thought I was silly telling them that they needed to have beds for their children, when many of them were thankful to have a roof over their heads instead of a tent, falling down building, or nothing at all. Or when I suggested that they should always make sure someone responsible is watching their children because it isn't safe for them to be unsupervised-did they want to tell me that their children have been safer here than in their birth country where armed solders invaded their communities and food was scarce.
As I look at Zion and Moriah can imagine how hard it must be to not have food for your children or a place to keep them safe from those who would hurt them. Sometimes it would be nice not to know the horrors that occur in our world, but I don't believe that God wants us to close our eyes to the needs of others. He commands us to care for the orphan and widow, to share the gospel, and to defend the weak. I want my Eyes to be Open to the needs of others.
I should (and do) feel guilty at times about the way I use the resources God has given me because He gave me the time, talents, and money I have expecting me to use them to bless others. I can get overwhelmed by the great needs across this world and at times not do anything because I don't know where to start-Satan loves this. If he can keep us confused and overwhelmed we won't be taking action. I have a big heart and am touched by the pain of many, but I know I can't do it all, so I try to stay focused on my passion for helping orphans and children who need families. I am blessed that my work at Gateway Woods allows me to help families adopt and encourage other families to consider adopting. As the result of Zach having cancer, God has also given me the opportunity to have a small part in advocating for the orphaned and needy children in Haiti, through the Cancer Redemption Project. I would like to challenge each person who reads this to ask God where He wants your passion to be and pray for opportunities to use what God has given you to further His Kingdom.
I am not sure how this got to be so long. The original purpose of this post was actually to encourage people (especially women) to read a book I just finished. Passport Through Darkness: A True Story of Danger and Second Chances by Kimberly L. Smith. Kimberly is passionate about serving those who have been impacted by slavery, abuse, and war in Sudan (and around the world). I appreciate her honesty about her struggles, her pain, her weaknesses, her faith, and her fight to survive the difficult ministry God called her to. Reading her book opened my eyes to the experiences the women I worked with several years ago may have had. It also brought me fear as I read about the danger and hurt I (and those I love) could experience as we follow God's direction. At the same time it gave me hope to see how faithful God was to Kimberly in caring for her through her deepest trials. I have courage to press on knowing God is faithful.
quotes from the Book:
My daily prayer is that God would use my victories, wounds, and transgressions forged along the way to encourage others to risk losing everything to know the life God dreams for them, for you. p. 253
As when Abraham placed Isaac on the alter, when we're ready to risk what we hold most sacred, we step into that adventurous life, the only one that matters. There we find our purpose and feel His pleasure-His delight in us. Beaming with the Light of His image, we clearly see the exact dream He holds for each of us. In that Light and life, we find Him-our passport through darkness p. 254
