A Heart BIG Enough

Living at the Village of Hope with so many children means always having someone calling my name and wanting my attention, whether it is to simply sit and talk, play a game, read a book, make a bracelet out of string, teach them how to draw, or bandage a bloody knee.

I do not have enough hands to hold each one when I walk from place to place. When I sit down my lap is not big enough for them all to curl up in my arms to be held. However, the Lord has given me a heart BIG enough to hold all the love I have for each one here and by His strength I am able to pour out this love to each child. And by His grace, I will continue to pour out His love each day He gives me here with the children.

This past week, I was so glad I was able to be here with eleven year old Hagar when she needed to go to the clinic. With so many children to care for, the house parents do not have the time or ability to see to every individual concern of their twenty-some children, like taking them to the clinic. Hagar had a staph infection that manifested itself in the form of a boil on her leg. It kept progressively getting worse until I finally went with her to the clinic to see the doctor. Staph infections and boils are so common here with unsanitary conditions. It can spread so easily from person to person. Hager asked me to go in with her when she saw the doctor. I held her hand as the doctor cleaned the area around her boil, which was extremely painful for her. It was hard for me to see her in such pain, but she was really brave through it all. I was thankful to be there with her so that she did not have to go through that alone. She thanked me afterwards for being there with her and gave me a big hug. The doctor put her on some medication to help fight the infection, and she is now doing much better.

While I was there, Benedicta, who is 11 years old, was sitting in the waiting area alone. She was waiting to get her bandages changed from the burn she suffered when boiling hot porridge spilled on her chest and stomach. Akua, who is 8 years old, was sick with malaria. She was waiting with 11 year old Agnes from her house to see the doctor. As I was sitting there in the waiting area with these young girls, I kept thinking about when I was sick as a child. I had parents who took me to the doctor and sat right by my side the entire time when I was not feeling well. I had the comfort and support of a loving mom who held my hand when I was afraid or rubbed my back when I was hurting. And all these girls went in to see the doctor by themselves. As I was holding Hagar's hand while she was in pain, I was so thankful to be with her in that moment to show my love and comfort her.