Part of my ministry in Ecuador on the World Race was going on visits with women who work with Compassion International. They give the moms advice on safety things around their house and for their young children like power outlets and wires hanging where children can reach them. They give them ideas for arts and crafts that are easy to do around the house when you can't necessarily go out to buy art supplies, like painting with ketchup and cup and string telephones. Teach on the educational purposes of building blocks. They talked about safety plans in case of a fire or an earthquake and who their contact person was in case of such events. They also talk to the family about God; doing arts and crafts that are hearts on the page for the woman's sons, one for her and her husband and a large heart in the center to clearly show who should be the center of the family and how they are all tied together.
Because most of the parents we are meeting with have young children at home who are either in the Compassion program or want to be in the Compassion program; it is our job to play with these kids so they don't distract their parents while the Compassion employees do their job.
And that brings me to my girl.
We walked up some back unpaved road and through a plywood gate into a yard with chickens wandering around, through a plywood door and into a little sitting/dining area and she followed us in not more than 3 years old. The woman we were with took out blocks for her to play with but she wanted nothing to do with us yet couldn't leave due to her curiosity.
After a little bit of convincing she decided it was Ok to play with the blocks. But it was not Ok for us to help her. Only her mom and then it was Ok for her older sister to help, and slowly it was Ok for me to help hand her the blocks to make a stack that stood up taller than she was. We were both wearing our warm hats because it was cold that day. Then that became a whole new game. Building with blocks and pulling our hats down over our faces for some peek-a-boo.
And it continued all the way through me praying with my hat getting pulled over my face in the middle of it and I made sure to thank God for this little jewel, and our fun new game. When it came time to leave we said our good byes and headed back our the gate. We made it a few steps down the road before we were called back because I hadn't given my girl a goodbye kiss. So I go back up and get a big wet sloppy kiss on my cheek. Love her!
We went off to other houses that day to and prayed with a lot of families. But that night this girl still stood out to me the most. It was a cold night like most are here in Quito. Even though we are close to the Equator we are almost 10,000 feet up and it's not all that warm. The conditions of most of the houses weren't the best. I don't know why this surprised me after so much time spent in Haiti and the DR but Ecuador didn't seem to me to be in such a need until we went to these places. Living in the city can sometimes blind you to the things going on around you. Well I prayed for warmth for the families and to keep them healthy.
The following Sunday while learning how to make scarfs on our fingers with on of our host families, one of the girls on my team chose a color that didn't have quite enough for a full length scarf, BUT it was the PERFECT length for say maybe a little girl… lightbulb!
Later during my time in Quito, while members on my team, who are both hairdressers, were cutting Compassion moms' hair; I went up to the room where they were cutting to get a key for a room to grab my camera for construction pictures and THERE SHE WAS! She came over and threw her hat at me. So I ran up to the room grabbed my camera and the scarf and came back down to play some more and she loved it! She was swinging the scarf around being the little terror she is getting into everything. But didn't need that warm up time anymore.
As I'm sitting here writing this I am thanking God for her. But it also makes me think. As we continue on our christian walk we are continually learning about all the ways that God is working in our lives. Different ways He comminicates with us and different ways He works in our lives. Yet, how hesitant are we to actually believe that these words we are hearing are from God sometimes? If we allow ourselves trust in Him to hand us those words, or blocks, the next time we encounter that, it is easier. Smoother. We no longer doubt. I want more trust in God to believe in Him when He speaks to me without needing a confirmation every time.
John 10:25-30
25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."
Just like when talking to a person the more we talk to them the more we can recognize their voice to the point where they are out of the room and we know it is them who is talking. The more we hear His voice the more we recognize it, but it requires us to listen for it. Where and what is God talking to you about today?
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