My team worked with a group of inner-city kids through a church in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The kids randomly signed up for a week-long program run by a group of crazy white college students. GRINGOS. Yeah...we were that group. Apparently it's a big deal to see someone who is white walking around in Guatemala. We were the classic tourists (even though Guatemala isn't a common touristy spot) with cameras, spanglish, and pasty-white skin...I give them [Guatemalans] every right to make fun of us ha.
Okay for real here -
It was incredibly evident that the children we worked with do not receive the validation and attention that they need. Some of those children go home to over-stuffed apartment units. Some of those children go home with no parental supervision. Some of them go to a home housing gang members (gang-members being their parents). The majority of the gang-member parents are fathers so it is common for the children to lack a fatherly-figure.
When I say that it was evident that those children do not receive enough attention and validation, I truly mean it. It was evident in the way that they interacted with us. They soaked up every single moment that they could with us. The tiniest bit of attention and validation that you gave them sparked the grittiest, mile-wide grin possible. These children are beautiful and their smiles break my heart. There is something great to be learned from these children.
Remember when I said, "they soaked up every single moment that they could with us"? Those children soaked up every moment with us because they needed that validation and attention. They received joy through it. The kids did not want to waste any time with us because they had love for us.
The way that the kids soaked up every waking moment with us is a great example of how we should soak up every moment with God. Every waking moment. We desperately need His attention and validation - we were made for it. We receive joy through Christ.
I truly love those children in Guatemala. However, I must be honest. There were times when I was so physically exhausted that I wanted to give up [and take a nap]. The group of children in December absolutely loved piggy-back rides. After giving 5 piggy-back rides in a row (multiple times per day) I was exhausted...really...another one? The kids in March loved playing freeze-tag. They would always make us [college students] be "it" - it was exhausting! Anytime I heard a child shout, "Rachel! Freeze tag!", my initial thought was "not again!"
We must remember that faith is not based on feelings. Sometimes, we simply just aren't "feeling it." Sometimes we don't feel super excited and emotional about God. Can we still have faith in Him? Yes. Can we still spend time with Him when we are not feeling it? Yes, and you will be blessed. Although there were times when I was exhausted and did not feel excited to be with the kids, it was well worth the time. Every single second. I did not feel "emotional" about the kids all the time, but I still loved them and persevered in soaking up time with them. It was a blessing. Let us persevere in our relationship with Christ out of love for Him. Let us soak up every moment with Him despite how we are feeling.
Okay for real here -
It was incredibly evident that the children we worked with do not receive the validation and attention that they need. Some of those children go home to over-stuffed apartment units. Some of those children go home with no parental supervision. Some of them go to a home housing gang members (gang-members being their parents). The majority of the gang-member parents are fathers so it is common for the children to lack a fatherly-figure.
When I say that it was evident that those children do not receive enough attention and validation, I truly mean it. It was evident in the way that they interacted with us. They soaked up every single moment that they could with us. The tiniest bit of attention and validation that you gave them sparked the grittiest, mile-wide grin possible. These children are beautiful and their smiles break my heart. There is something great to be learned from these children.
Remember when I said, "they soaked up every single moment that they could with us"? Those children soaked up every moment with us because they needed that validation and attention. They received joy through it. The kids did not want to waste any time with us because they had love for us.
The way that the kids soaked up every waking moment with us is a great example of how we should soak up every moment with God. Every waking moment. We desperately need His attention and validation - we were made for it. We receive joy through Christ.
I truly love those children in Guatemala. However, I must be honest. There were times when I was so physically exhausted that I wanted to give up [and take a nap]. The group of children in December absolutely loved piggy-back rides. After giving 5 piggy-back rides in a row (multiple times per day) I was exhausted...really...another one? The kids in March loved playing freeze-tag. They would always make us [college students] be "it" - it was exhausting! Anytime I heard a child shout, "Rachel! Freeze tag!", my initial thought was "not again!"
We must remember that faith is not based on feelings. Sometimes, we simply just aren't "feeling it." Sometimes we don't feel super excited and emotional about God. Can we still have faith in Him? Yes. Can we still spend time with Him when we are not feeling it? Yes, and you will be blessed. Although there were times when I was exhausted and did not feel excited to be with the kids, it was well worth the time. Every single second. I did not feel "emotional" about the kids all the time, but I still loved them and persevered in soaking up time with them. It was a blessing. Let us persevere in our relationship with Christ out of love for Him. Let us soak up every moment with Him despite how we are feeling.
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