When you are called to serve the LORD Jesus on a foreign land, there are many sacrifices that one makes. You’re away from your family for extended periods of time. You work really long hours. You wear many hats on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. Your a problem solver. You put out fires, you calm fears, you make friends, and yes even a few enemies along the way. Your a dreamer, teacher, mentor, and surrogate father figure for many children. You rarely have down time.
You pray really hard for the LORD Jesus to speak to folks and open their hearts. You pray the LORD will raise up more folks to financially get involved in the ministry. When the Holy Spirit’s still small voice spoke for me to start this ministry, I listened and stepped out in faith. It has not been an easy road. I have been betrayed many times by folks I trusted. I have been robbed by folks I trusted. Each day, I pray God will multiply the funds. I also pray He will multiply the food and supplies we need for that day. I pray we have no more auto break downs and that the LORD will keep things moving forward.
I pray for the children. We aim to reach their hearts and plant those seeds. And one day, they will accept Jesus. Some days it is frustrating, you don’t feel like you’re making any headway. Today was one of those days. The children stayed long after it was time to go home. I still had so much yet to get done today. I finally closed off our patio courtyard and went into my office and began to work. Then I saw a familiar face at my front gate wanting to come see me. At the same time I received a text from one of our student helpers telling me of my little visitor who wanted to come see me again.
Her name is Dulce. We have become very close. She is 6 years old. She lost her father about 3 years ago in an accident, and I lost my 6 year old granddaughter to cancer almost 2 years ago. I spoke before how I believe the Holy Spirit brought us into each others lives to help each other. When I first met her, she was and still is a bundle of energy, but she had a bad habit of giving folks the middle finger and saying words a little girl should not be saying. I have spoken with her and even reprimanded her on several occasions about this and how bad it was and how sad this made me and Jesus. Thankfully, I have not seen or heard any bad gestures or words lately.
I went out and let her in. She said she was hungry so we went up to the kitchen and I made her two hot dogs, which she devoured and wanted another one. When I placed the third one on her plate she said something that almost brought me to tears. “Papa David we forgot to pray.” I let myself get so busy trying to take care of her physical needs, I forgot about teaching her to pray and give thanks. I told her she was right and I was sorry. Before I got a chance, she began praying and led the prayer in a very special and beautiful way.
At this point my heart had melted and every frustration was gone. This precious little girl was listening to everything I had been saying to her and the other children in the months leading up to this moment. Every sacrifice made to this point, was worth this one act. Thank you Jesus for speaking through us to their hearts.
