God’s Beloved Children

  
Yesterday my team and I got the incredible opportunity to spend the morning and afternoon at Destiny's Promise Orphanage.
 
We jumped right in and started playing games with them. We read books, ran around, jumped on the big trampoline on the roof top, acted like horses and play gyms as all of the smiling kids climbed all over us and we held them and laughed for hours.

 
As soon as I walked in a little boy asked me to hold him. So I picked him up and held him for a couple of minutes. Some of the other boys wanted to play so I sat him down and automatically he started to whine and cry. He wouldn't stop and he kept holding up his hands for me to hold. Soon after that I found out that just a month ago his mom dropped him off in the street with one pair of clothes and that's it. He's only about 4 years old. Completely alone and just needing someone to hold him and to show him attention and love.
 
There was also a beautiful girl named Irish. She looked about 3 1/2 years old. She was very shy but very sweet. I talked to one of the workers about her story. It turns out she is 6 years old. When she was found she was only 15 pounds and it’s a miracle she is alive. She wasn't fed or cared for.
 
Another little girl I found out was sold 3 times by her mother before coming to Destiny's promise. Sold by her own mother while her mother prostituted her own body for money. She is 5 years old. The first week living at the orphanage was filled with tears at night. Which is very normal for these little kids. One night one of the male workers sat on the edge of the bed and started to calm her down by rubbing her back. 
Automatically the little girl opened up her legs without saying anything or opening her eyes. The worker was heart broken to see this and closed her legs together. As soon as he did this she let out a sigh of relief and went to sleep. 
Only 5 years old being sold by her own mother at the age of 5 being sold into sex slavery. Being abused by a 13 year old boy in another orphanage and many other people.
 
So many stories. So many heart breaking, stomach turning stories of these little kids. These kids have experienced more life than many people ever will. 
One prayer that some of my teammates and I have said is "break my heart for what breaks yours Lord". Very scary prayer and God answered that for my teammate and myself in many situations here. 
God gave me his eyes yesterday to see what breaks his heart. God showed me what He cares for. I was able to see these kids in a new way. I saw them how God sees them. They are precious children of God. He loves them with an overwhelming and all consuming love. He wants the best for His children.
 
My heart is broken for all of these beautiful children. My heart breaks everyday when I see a child alone on the streets, my heart breaks when I hear about the abuse that a innocent 5 year old girl has experienced, my heart breaks for all of these children that deserve the best life. God’s children all around the world. On December 14^th my heart broke for all of the families affected by the Sandy Hook Shooting. I cried yesterday hearing all of these stories and even blogging about this I am.
 
Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
 
Luke 20:36
They are like the angels, they are God’s children.
 

The kingdom of heaven belongs to God’s beautiful children. As hard as it to see all of this pain and feel so broken for these children I am thankful. I am thankful that God showed me what he loves. I am thankful that God gave me his eyes to see what breaks his heart.
Through all of the brokenness God is moving in HUGE ways. God is at work with all of these broken families and God is healing his precious and beloved children.