His pure LOVE

After a long day today @ the Mexico orphanage and taking care of various tasks my day just got more interesting. As I arrived at the younger kids house I settled into the room where I was spending the night, then all the younger girls all came into my room to invite me to see a movie. I hesitantly dragged my feet with tiredness, however still with joy in my heart to spend time with theses kids. When I got to the second level where the movie was I came across a little boy. He was kicking the other kids and punching them. My natural reaction was to discipline and tell him to stop, but he would not listen! To tell you the truth I was a bit frustrated.

However, as I stopped and looked at him I saw a deep pain in his eyes and just not a pain but sadness. As I tried to grab him he spitted a candy at my face, but I knew I should not react. I sat him down next to me and tried to ask him why he was being so disruptive? He just kept pretending he was not listening me and closed his eyes.

Something in me knew that he was acting this way because he was sad. As I looked at him I said what is your name? He replied Isaiah and I started to share that his name was in the bible and how God used Isaiah in a powerful way. Finally, I started to get his attention. Then I asked if he was sad and he said "yes" because his mom left him at the orphanage and had promised to come back but never did.

I gave him a hug and told him he is never alone and that God loved him. He replied by nodding his head in agreement. I gave him a kiss on the forehead telling him I love him and that I believe in him to do great things.

It was incredible to see his attitude change and he just sat on my lap giving me hugs as I embraced him. Today taught me that love changes even the hardest of kids. Also we sometimes don't know why people or kids act they way they do. Sometimes it's all the pain and hurt they have gone through but overall it's love that changes all, God's pure LOVE.

 ‪#‎unity4orphans‬

A life Surrendered

"Surrender!" But what do you mean God? I would say. I was 19 years old and addicted to drugs and was getting married to the love of my life. I was living my life the way I wanted and in no way I was going to surrender the life I was living. As the days went by I felt empty and with no hope. All I could feel and see was darkness as I was sinking in deeper to the wounds that I thought would never heal. In my heart I was desperate for a savior and longing to be freed from the mediocre life I was living. As my life took a turn for the worst where I almost lost my life, as I took my last breath, I said "Lord give me a second chance." As I grasped for air I could feel His hand giving me life once again, as I was pulled back I saw and light and He said. "You are a light."

As I surrendered all I was reminded that God had implanted a dream long before I knew him to travel the world. But at 19 years old I had not traveled anywhere. I have not even been on a plane before! That dream was meant to glorify Him, so at 21 I took my first missions trip to Guatemala where the Lord spoke to me "this is what I made you for." I knew deep down in my soul that God was calling me to the nations. Ever since that day I began to travel to bring hope and the gospel to many nations (40 different countries to this day). I have witnessed thousands give their lives to the lord, I have seen miracles, planted churches around the world, made disciples, etc... However, the greatest transformation has been my life to see Him heal my wounds, giving me my true identity, taught me to love again, and understanding that I am a child of God was worth surrendering it all.

When God asks us to surrender our lives it is really not to lose it but to gain it. God has something so wonderful for each one of us, but we are fearful of losing what we think is good and in reality we are getting something greater when we surrender. You are precious to Him and He wants to use you to be a light to many. heart emoticon

Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.- Matthew 10:39

LOVE changes all...

Brian was brought to La Tribu de Jesus orphanage when he was 6 years old and now is 16 years old. He was rescued out of a home that was abusive, had a mom that was a prostitute, and for most of his 6 years he was left alone. He has lived such a hard life that I can not tell you all about to protect him, but seeing the restoration in his life reminds me that there is a God that heals. Seeing him smile and his eyes glow when he passionately speaks about what he wants to do when he graduates high school, reminds me that there is HOPE, and that LOVE changes people.

As I took him to visit his mom for the first time in a year I could see the pain in his eyes because he does not have a great relationship with her, but he said that he hopes one day that relationship would be restored. Then as the conversation went on he told me that one of his greatest desires in to be a solder in the military and to learn English one day. However, because of his past decisions to do drugs and run away from the orphanage he was behind in school and that reaching those dreams will be harder. As I looked at him I said "I see so much potential in you and I know you will reach those dreams and when it gets hard keep trying! Never give up!" He looked at me as if those words were foreign. In that moment I knew that Brian was not the abandon orphan but CHOSEN, WANTED, ADOPTED.... His life is so precious and valuable, not because I felt sorry for him, or because he needed anyone to pitty him, but because he is God's child, His father is a king.  

This week I have been in Mexico for the past two days which were very memorable & heart-wrenching as one day Brian was struggling because of his past and was at a very hard point of his live. Brian was caught between the desires of this world and in his heart was bitterness, hatred, and no hope because of what he had gone through. But,

Brain was not alone he has a family now in La Tribu... So all of the teen boys gathered around him, embraced him with hugs, prayed for him, and said "we love you." To see all of these boys that come from the streets show that deep love to one another reminded me of God's unconditional love for us.

This why I do what I do. To see lives transformed and restored. This is the greater work 

‪#‎unity4orphans‬