Every time I return from Haiti, I am overwhelmed by the amount of orphaned children I see and the conditions with which they live in. My heart breaks for every sweet child that takes my hand, every hungry tummy I rub, and every tear I wipe saying, "Jesus, LOVES YOU." In Haiti, children are everywhere. You can't walk outside without 20-40 little bodies running up to you craving love and attention. They may be filthy, hungry, unclothed, thirsty, but always have a HUGE smile on their face. One day last week while I was in Haiti, I had the opportunity to walk along a river that ran through a very poor village. For the time I walked through I prayed over each piece of land my feet touched and all the people I saw. I claimed Haiti for Jesus! It takes me a few minutes to take in the conditions these people live in as I fight tears that flood my eyes and the sickening feeling that rises in my throat. No sanitation. No clean water; they drink the same water they bathe in and wash clothes in. Naked malnourished bodies. Protruding bellies from worms. No access to medical care. Not much of a house. Rice and Beans everyday. A lack of love.
As I walked along, I scooped up a tiny little boy and he wrapped his frail arms around my neck. His huge belly made it hard for me to hold him. It growled and I knew he was hungry. I loved on him holding him close. His grip was tight around my neck and he did not want me to put him down. I carried him the ENTIRE walk along the river trying to get a few giggles out of him as I twirled him around and squeezed him tight :)
The Lord began to speak to me as I walked. Part of my was so angry at the tremendous suffering these children were having to face and I was overwhelmed by the amount of children and orphans there were. I believe God created the universe and He did not create too many children in His image. I wanted to do something. I wanted to help them ALL. I wanted to feed every hungry belly and get medicine for every sick body. I wanted to bathe them, clothe them, give them a place to sleep, but most of all, share the LOVE of Jesus with them. But God whispered, "One is enough. Stop for just one," because as I do it for one of "the least of these," I do it for Him (Matthew 25:40). He taught me an incredible lesson that day- "To stop and help the person in front of me, and trust him with the rest." I am such a people person and I want to give everything I have and find myself wanting to help everyone and every orphan. I get discouraged when I look at how many orphans there are or how many sick kids or how many starving bellies that I see the word "impossible" and forget who my Savior is. The heartache is too much at times and then I don't even know where to begin or where to start helping. I look at myself thinking, "How can "I" make a difference or change this situation?" The first thing Jesus whispered is, "Take the "I" out and replace it with "We"...You can't but "We" can!" He told me that I could smile and stop worrying because there was one less baby that needed love that day. One less orphan that was hungry. And at the end of the day he reminds me to trust Him with the rest. This was a huge lesson for me because I was constantly facing the statistic's of how many more I'm not helping, I'm not touching, I'm not feeding when I stop for just one. But it is enough for ONE to feel that eternal love!!
I do it for Jesus! He loved me first and I am going to love Him back. Sometimes it hurts and it's not easy but I remember "Do not forget in the darkness what you have been promised in the light." It is my privilege, not only to believe in Jesus but to suffer with Him (Philippines 1:29)
Therefore, "A life changed is worth it, even if only one. God's love made known is worth it, even if only to one. I can't help them all but I will keep trying. I will say "YES." I will stop for one."
Love this Lauren!!!:)
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