¡Hola! and greetings from Lima, Peru. My name is Kristen Haas, and I am a part of the Ash Creek Baptist Church team from Azle, Texas. This week I have had the opportunity to visit an oprhanage for boys called El Hogar de Los Niños en Ancon. We are conducting a Vacation Bible School there complete with teaching them how to play drum rhythms, recreation and games, building and decorating wooden derby cars, and a bible study session. I can tell the boys are enjoying our time with them, and they have really touched my heart in an amazing way.
As a part of our Vacation Bible School at the orphanage, my job is to help with recreation. I love helping with recreation, I believe it is where God intended for me to be. We have played two games with them in the past two days, and it is amazing to watch the boys comprehend the game. They have gone from not knowing how to play the game to having a really good time. I have enjoyed running and playing with them. I have created a special bond with them through the games. We celebate our victories together and protect each other during the games. We laugh and smile and really bring out the competitive side in each other. Even though I can only understand a small amount of Spanish, I believe playing and laughing together has conveyed words that we could never speak to each other. The boys and I run alongside each other with smiles on our faces, and it is a joy I will never forget experiencing.
Today was also the day that we gave each of the boys a new pair of shoes. It was amazing to see how excited the boys were to receive them. They ran to get into line, and they were jumping up and down in excitement. As they received their new pair of shoes, their faces lit up. I felt like a true servant of God as I ran around looking for the right size shoe for the boys and as I knelt down to put the shoes on their feet. It was a truly humbling experience.
I also met a boy named Alexis on day one, and we have created a special bond over the past three days. He is thirteen years old, I can tell he is very intelligent. He asks me questions about the American culture, and is very interested in learning the English language. He gives me hugs and tells me he loves me, and I tell him that I love him too. And I truly do. I desire the best for him, and it breaks my heart to know that he has had a rough life. I am posting a picture of him on this blog post. He is holding the pair of shoes he received today, and he was able to get the white shoes that he wanted. He was very happy.
The past three days at the boys home has changed my view of the world. The experience has been very emotional for me, and at times all I can do is cry about it. I have prayed to God several times about what I am feeling. Why these boys? Why have I been fortunate enough to have the life I have, a family to support and love me, and the possessions I am able to own? I am heart-broken by these questions. I do not think that it is fair, but I have been told that I need to look at the big picture and what God has in store for them. I have come to realize that love and hope are the only things these boys need, and I am one of the people bringing them these two essential things. God has sent our team here to bring them love and be a shining beacon of hope for the boys. I pray that our actions are conveying God´s love to them, and I ask that all of you do the same.
Tomorrow is our last days with the boys. We are going to see the movie Up! which will ve very exciting for them and us. Most of them have probably never experienced going to the movie theatre before. It is going to be awesome! It will also be our last session of Vacation Bible School with the boys tomorrow afternoon. They will be playing their drum piece for us, racing their derby cars, and hearing the story of Jesus´ resurrection. Even though it is a day filled with fun, the day is going to end in sorrow. I am not ready to leave these boys yet. The whole team is not ready to leave these boys yet. The goodbyes are going to be the most difficult part for all of us. I become very sad and cry just thinking about it. If you´re reading this please pray for our goodbyes. Pray that we will leave a lasting impact on these boys and that they will forever remember our love for them. But most importantly, pray that they know that they will always have God´s love. And I pray that it will bring hope and peace to their lives.
I have learned to look at the big picture from this experience. I am leaving relationships and friends that I have made behind. I am going to have to say goodbye to Alexis, something that I am dreading. However, these boys will forever remember the experiences we brought to them. The different worlds that we live in are only temporary. The hardships these boys face are only temporary. Our time with God in heaven is eternal, and we are leaving that hope for eternal happiness behind with the boys.
A quote of comfort from a Chris Tomlin song: "You´re the God of this city. You´re the God of these people. You´re the Lord of this nation. You are. You´re the light in the darkness. You´re the hope to the hopeless. You´re the peace to the restless. You are. Greater things are yet to come. Greater things are still to be done in this city...Greater things are yet to be done here."
As a part of our Vacation Bible School at the orphanage, my job is to help with recreation. I love helping with recreation, I believe it is where God intended for me to be. We have played two games with them in the past two days, and it is amazing to watch the boys comprehend the game. They have gone from not knowing how to play the game to having a really good time. I have enjoyed running and playing with them. I have created a special bond with them through the games. We celebate our victories together and protect each other during the games. We laugh and smile and really bring out the competitive side in each other. Even though I can only understand a small amount of Spanish, I believe playing and laughing together has conveyed words that we could never speak to each other. The boys and I run alongside each other with smiles on our faces, and it is a joy I will never forget experiencing.
Today was also the day that we gave each of the boys a new pair of shoes. It was amazing to see how excited the boys were to receive them. They ran to get into line, and they were jumping up and down in excitement. As they received their new pair of shoes, their faces lit up. I felt like a true servant of God as I ran around looking for the right size shoe for the boys and as I knelt down to put the shoes on their feet. It was a truly humbling experience.
I also met a boy named Alexis on day one, and we have created a special bond over the past three days. He is thirteen years old, I can tell he is very intelligent. He asks me questions about the American culture, and is very interested in learning the English language. He gives me hugs and tells me he loves me, and I tell him that I love him too. And I truly do. I desire the best for him, and it breaks my heart to know that he has had a rough life. I am posting a picture of him on this blog post. He is holding the pair of shoes he received today, and he was able to get the white shoes that he wanted. He was very happy.
The past three days at the boys home has changed my view of the world. The experience has been very emotional for me, and at times all I can do is cry about it. I have prayed to God several times about what I am feeling. Why these boys? Why have I been fortunate enough to have the life I have, a family to support and love me, and the possessions I am able to own? I am heart-broken by these questions. I do not think that it is fair, but I have been told that I need to look at the big picture and what God has in store for them. I have come to realize that love and hope are the only things these boys need, and I am one of the people bringing them these two essential things. God has sent our team here to bring them love and be a shining beacon of hope for the boys. I pray that our actions are conveying God´s love to them, and I ask that all of you do the same.
Tomorrow is our last days with the boys. We are going to see the movie Up! which will ve very exciting for them and us. Most of them have probably never experienced going to the movie theatre before. It is going to be awesome! It will also be our last session of Vacation Bible School with the boys tomorrow afternoon. They will be playing their drum piece for us, racing their derby cars, and hearing the story of Jesus´ resurrection. Even though it is a day filled with fun, the day is going to end in sorrow. I am not ready to leave these boys yet. The whole team is not ready to leave these boys yet. The goodbyes are going to be the most difficult part for all of us. I become very sad and cry just thinking about it. If you´re reading this please pray for our goodbyes. Pray that we will leave a lasting impact on these boys and that they will forever remember our love for them. But most importantly, pray that they know that they will always have God´s love. And I pray that it will bring hope and peace to their lives.
I have learned to look at the big picture from this experience. I am leaving relationships and friends that I have made behind. I am going to have to say goodbye to Alexis, something that I am dreading. However, these boys will forever remember the experiences we brought to them. The different worlds that we live in are only temporary. The hardships these boys face are only temporary. Our time with God in heaven is eternal, and we are leaving that hope for eternal happiness behind with the boys.
A quote of comfort from a Chris Tomlin song: "You´re the God of this city. You´re the God of these people. You´re the Lord of this nation. You are. You´re the light in the darkness. You´re the hope to the hopeless. You´re the peace to the restless. You are. Greater things are yet to come. Greater things are still to be done in this city...Greater things are yet to be done here."
2 comments:
I am praying for your goodbyes...thank you for sharing this...it brought tears to my eyes, but they were tears of the joy of knowing the eternal things...greater things ARE yet to be done...AMEN!
Love, Perrianne
I'm here in my hotel room at 12:00 A.M. in Peru and YOU made me cry!!!
luke
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