Life

I've seen so many of these blogs and have decided to join in. I figured this is the easiest way to keep up with people and allow them to have a small glimpse of what is going on in my life. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving break but glad that the semester is FINALLY over. During thanksgiving, I had the chance to visit my brother and other family(whom I haven't seen in eight years) in Virgina. Now I am in the midst of packing and heading down to Nicaragua once again. God has given me the opportunity to spend Christmas with the kids that I love so much. I see them as part of my family and have seen many of them grow up over the past five years. Now, I ask for your prayers! Many children from the orphanage will be headed back home during Christmas and many of the older children will be leaving the orphanages for good. You may be thinking, "Oh, this is wonderful. They are going home and won't be in the orphanage anymore." In some instances this is the truth but for many it is rare. Life back home is not as easy on the kids as life in the orphanages. In fact, many children have spent most of their life in the orphanages and don't know how to live in the "real" world. At home, many don't receive love and begin to turn to other means to fill this void. I have seen it all in children that have left the orphanages. Some end up dabbling in drugs, prostitution, and getting caught up in gangs. Their parents see them as a means to make money and so they send their kids out to the streets. One of the hardest things for me is to see some of my kids that use to live at the orphanage now washing windows at a major intersection. Then there is the scenario of a 14 yr old girl having a baby. She herself is a child who is having a child. This is why I ask each one of you for your prayers on their behalf. In many of these situations, we are helpless and I continue to feel this sense of helplessness. BUT, I am thankful! I am thankful that the Lord has each one of these children in His arms. When they are being abused or feeling the pains of hunger, it is our Lord Jesus Christ embracing them in His arms and giving them comfort and TRUE love. At times, I cry out to the Lord, "How can this happen to these beautiful innocent children. Do you see what is happening?" But they are His! These are His children and He is hurting more than me at the injustice towards His beautiful children. Lord our Hope is in you and you ALONE!!

"Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy[1-2]

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.[5-6]

O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is UNFAILING love and with his is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins." Psalm 130:7-8