-We were welcomed by a few of the older kids from the orphanage at the airport when we arrived. They were so happy we were here and did not stop smiling.This was only the second time some one has visited them in 2 years. God instantly showed me my purpose for being there : show them His love.
-The low standard of living at the orphanage for the children is astonishing. The kids have nothing to their name except for a few pairs of clothes. They do not even have showers, just buckets of water [which is pretty scarce]. All the hardships that come with being without family and in poverty gives anyone room to complain and be bitter. Yet these kids LOVE the Lord their God and are all smiles.They truly understand what Christ did for them and how he chose to love them whether or not they are worth anything in the eyes of this world.
-read the story of a 15 yr old boy named Simon to grasp the trust they have in Christ that puts mine to shame.
–Simon was born into a family that practiced Hinduism. At the age of 5, a pastor visited his house and told him about Jesus Christ. Simon was intrigued and asked how He was different than the gods of his family. The pastor explained how Jesus is alive and is not dead like the other false gods. Simon was faced with the choice to follow the faith of his family or follow the one true God.
–He chose Jesus. Simon would sneak out of his house [despite the beatings that followed] to go to church in order to know more about Christ. When he turned 6, the pastor offered to take him to New Delhi, 2 day train ride, to live a life focused on learning more of God. His parents allowed him and Simon began to hunger and thirst for the Lord. He could not read or write so learning more about God while he was alone was near impossible.
–Simon told me that one night while he was in his room, he prayed and asked the Lord to give him the gift of reading so that he could learn more of God. The next Sunday at church, Simon was reading the Bible out loud to the entire congregation.
–His parents died from hunger when he was only 8 yrs old and Simon was transferred to the orphanage we are at right now. His older brother told him to come home, but knowing of the village’s Hindu faith, Simon rejected the command. Simon wants to become an engineer and his favorite thing to do besides play cricket, is to share the Good News. He gets it. Simon knows the Father’s love for us and does not hold back on sharing it to others.
-I am so encouraged by his faith and courageousness for the Lord. These children are comforted and energized by the truth of the Bible. They cling to the fact that God loves them and is faithful to them, no matter their situation.
-Their faith and joy is not circumstantial. It’s a perfect time to practice and learn this since I have literally just have a layer of sweat surrounding my body all the time.
–“The joy of the Lord is my strength”–