Tag Archives: place of refuge

God’s Plan

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One day, Gerber jumped up from his desk and ran toward the gate, responding to Antonio’s cries for help. Following Gerber out the door, I couldn’t believe what I saw. After trying to get out of the gate, little Elias* attempted to climb the wall to make an escape. Gerber caught up to him and held the struggling guy in his arms, “It’s okay, Elias, I’m here to help you.”

I walked back to the office with them, thinking of what I wanted to tell this frightened boy who had been with us for only two days. He desperately felt the need to leave and managed to get out of the school, past their gate, and down to the front gate before he got caught. Elias didn’t respond to Gerber, so he obviously didn’t trust people.

Gerber took Elias into his office to talk, and I asked the social worker about Elias and why he came to Shadow of His Wings Orphanage. This boy had lived his young life out on the streets looking for food, a place to sleep, and acceptance. His alcoholic mother told him over and over that he was worthless. She loudly declared that she hated him and wished he had never been born. The neighbors testified to the abuses that took place close to them, and Elias’ body bore scars from his mother and others, as they took out their anger and frustrations upon him.

I could hardly wait to talk with Elias. He sat before me looking down at his shoes. “Elias, look at me, please,” I said. I felt relieved when he did and took advantage of the moment. “Elias, you are loved by all of us here. We want to take care of you and help you feel safe. You don’t have to go look for food or a place to sleep. Don’t you have a bed in the casita?” His scarred head nodded in affirmation. “Have you been given food to eat?” I barely heard the whispered, “Si.”

“Elias, I want to share something with you that you will hear from others here in Shadow, because it is a very important message. Did you know that God has a special plan for your life, and He made you for that special plan? People have done evil things to you, but God did not plan it that way. I believe the Lord has brought you here so you can know how important you are and that you are part of His family.”

I strongly shared these thoughts with Elias because at a time in my past, they impacted me. The goal to teach every child that their lives have purpose in Jesus had been carried out since Marita left the orphanage. Many, like Elias, desperately needed to know their importance in God’s plans. I had the honor of sharing God’s love with Elias. After praying, he rose to leave, grabbed me around my waist, and gave me a big hug. I knew he felt loved, and his life would be transformed because of it.

Elias responded by demonstrating positive changes in his daily interactions. He looked directly into the eyes when spoken to. His lopsided smile and laugh had taken the place of the straight-lipped fear that once showed on his face. Elias soaked in the love and learned to respond to others in the same way as his role models.

My heart soared because of the hope we could give these children, knowing how hopeless many of them felt when they came to us. I could be a part of providing a place of refuge and help them find a purpose for their lives. They are told that they are not some accident but created for a specific plan formed by God. Adding love to this message gives hope the power to fill their hearts with a knowing of who they are in the Lord Jesus. Thank you, Lord, that I can be a part of this with You.

*Name has been changed.

A New Testimony

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After the initial realization that I would be working with two children, I recalibrated my expectations as a mother. A totally different set of issues changed the scene. Jorge* continued to struggle with respiratory issues and developed pneumonia and asthma, which required much attention to keep him from going to the hospital. Leti* basked under the attention that she received from her teacher, who came faithfully, teaching her to read and write. I took over the care of Jorge but explained many childcare ideas to Leti. We began a rhythm, which will be greatly changed soon.

Talking to Leti about her growing-up years gave me a glimpse into the lives of some of the children we would minister to. With a better understanding of what these kids endure, those of us at Shadow would be better equipped to facilitate the process of healing.

“Leti, why are you taking those scraps of meat out of the garbage?” I asked as I watched her pop them into her mouth.

“It is a sin to put them there,” she said. I learned that it was rare for her to have meat when she lived in the village. It upset her to see those little pieces thrown into the garbage. She went on a crusade when she saw food items being put into the trash and announced that we needed to give them to the hungry people on the streets. This was a great idea, but not easy to put into practice.

I probed into Leti’s memory banks about her mom and family life. She shook her head and said she didn’t remember much about her mom before she died. What she knew came from other members of her family. Leti described a loveless existence with her grandmother, who became her primary caretaker after her mother’s death. Someone told her that coffee usually filled her bottle, because the lack of money prevented the purchase of the badly needed milk. Her grandmother had a distillery for making alcohol, which brought in a little money for supporting the family. She gave Leti the alcohol to drink, along with her diet of coffee, bananas, and, at times, tortillas. At the age of ten, Leti’s grandmother died, and Leti shuffled between an older sister and her aunt in a life without love and care.

The wounds ran deep in Leti’s heart. We spent hours talking and praying about the Lord Jesus and the plans He had for her life. Leti wanted Jesus to be Lord in her life and hung onto every word shared about Him. As she poured out her fears, I found myself relating to some of the things she experienced. She confessed that she didn’t have anyone in her life, except for Joanne and I. I had, in times past, feared being alone. I understood the seriousness of what she shared. Leti had never received any signs of affection from anybody until she came into the orphanage. I couldn’t believe someone had lived sixteen years and never had a hug. I felt a tear in a portion of my heart.

“Leti, you are a child of God. Now you have a testimony of how you were lost, and He found you and brought you to this place.” Thank you, Lord, that you put the lonely in families. “One day, you will be sharing this hope with others when the Lord brings them across your path. Your testimony will show the power of His love for you. He brought you to this place of refuge for your healing and to prepare you for your future,” I explained. The Holy Spirit moved greatly in this young lady, as she exposed more of her heart. My words were reinforced by counseling from a pastor, his wife, and Joanne. The Lord had her surrounded by love, but just like with anybody else, there would be times of progress and times of stepping backwards.

We shouted “hallelujah” when James Project of Latin America/Shadow of His Wings Orphanage became a legal association in November 2001, and the doors to the orphanage opened. We followed the next steps to make ourselves known in the court system, in preparation for receiving children. This would definitely not be an easy path because of the lack of fluent Spanish. Lord, I continue to need your help with all of this. You will make a way for me to communicate with the judges, because you said you would give me everything I needed when I answered your call.
*Name has been changed.