There is so much more to them, than just their stories.
July 4, 2009
I came into Uganda with the mind set that I was called here to listen to the children’s stories, record them, make them feel valued and go. My goal at the end of the day, the only way I truly felt accomplished was if I got a “tragic” story out of a child… Talk about pushy…
There are two different sections, the orphan section (no parents) and the boarding sections (with parents). When a student shared his/her story and revealed that they had parents i was off to the next story, next victim, like they are objects, like some sort of project. I felt like these children didnt need as much love, or be held as much as the children with with “broken” stories. It trully was so incredibly selfish of me.
By the Grace of God, He opened my eyes… and Fast.
I felt such a burden in my heart going about the first week. I was in search of stories, rather than just LOVING these children they way God loved them so much before they even lived out their stories. I asked God, “are you pleased with what I’m doing?” God spoke such such tenderness in my heart, revealing that He loves these students, His children, all the same. HE DOES NOT CHANGE HIS COMPASSION ON THE INTENSITY OF THE STORY. That blew me away! God loves us all the same?
I am called the love each and every one of these students the exact same, parents or not, and based off of my own judgement… sad story or not. What right do I have? God just want me to be filled with compassion, to love on these kids, before anything. I no longer NEED to hear the Isaac and Byron stories, war stories, abandonment stories. I NEED to Love on these kids no matter what. Yes their stories count SO MUCH, but they ALL do. Their is no selection in the kingdom of heaven. God Favors us all, the same?!!! I must live this way. A compassionate heart for each and every one of Gods children, Sticky hands, sad stories, or not, all the same.
I picture Jesus, Just loving on his people. Holding any hand, and listening, patiently to anyone whom desires to speak to Him. We have quite the beautiful example.
My prayer is that we fill ourselves with the compassion of our God, That the stories are treated with the same amount of care and tenderness.
I love and miss you all.
From a forgiven one, to another.
- Natalia!
July 6, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Natalia. Awesome. You have taken a huge step and it’s awesome that you realize it! It sounds as though you are taking advantage of the opportunities to grow and I couldn’t agree more with the realizations that you have come to! I am wishing you all the best and continue to take what you have learned and apply it to everything in your life!
July 7, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Dude. Mel has told me alot about you and I have met you but with not spending that much time with you I have to say that you are a very genuine person. Coming to revelations like this is something that a true worshipper of Jesus would have. So real. So loving! Keep loving. Like I told Meliss, there are definate challenges to all that we do in life, but how worth it is it to have challenges in a place our heart loves and with people we love? And with God as the center! Im praying for yall’s time there!