What Do I Do with This???
It seems like ever since we got back to Swaziland in January, we have been confronted with children who are alone. I know. That probably sounds weird since we ARE working with an orphan ministry. But there have been more and more reports of kids being discovered to be living on their own, with siblings or cousins maybe, but no adults.
Eight year old twin sisters: ALONE
Seven year old girl: ALONE
Six sisters, from age 16 down to 7: ALONE
Honestly, I could go on. I really could. And I could tell you heart-rending details about each of these situations.
If you know me, you know I want to bring them all home with me. Protect them, feed them, love on them. Give them a warm bed and clean clothes and a full belly and a sense of safety and peace. But we have learned that that is not the answer either – bringing them home to our house. Not a feasible, long-term answer anyway. And not fair to a child to take them from their neighborhood, culture, tradition and pour love and care and “things” on them knowing that it won’t/can’t last forever and they will eventually be going back to a place that may or may not have a bed or running water or food enough to fill their bellies. Or laughter or prayers….. or parents.
What does God want me to do with this? Where is my responsibility, when my heart is to take them all in?
So, that is what I am praying through, living with and trying to figure out right now.
We all (Steve, Allison, Mark and myself) have a dream of having an official “Halfway House”. A place where we employ Swazi’s to care for kids in a safe, loving environment while their families, or the Social Welfare Department, or we look for a permanent solution for their living situation. Would you pray with us about this?
Thanks for loving us and for praying with me through all this.
