Family in ministry

This week is a busy week, yet one that we look forward to all year.  Our goal at Home of Love, is to "relocate" children to live with their relatives.  Most of our children are with us because of the war - separated from family either because of deaths or because of physical separation. Our orphans all have identified family who may eventually qualify to become their guardians.  We continue supporting them long-term and we have the opportunity to be in their lives long-term.

So this week finds us, as a family, at Home of Love for long, hot, busy days.  These are days where I hardly hold Micah.  He's whisked away by his adoring fan club the second he's done nursing.  Noah wanders the grounds barefoot, drinking from the borehole, covered head to toe with dirt, mud, and food.  Ana and Moses romp with their friends.  Gracie is wheeled around, never alone, often giggling hysterically and screaming in joy.

It's exhausting - the chaos of wrangling 65 children and getting them to follow the program, the multitasking of keeping track of my five children amongst the many, the cultural differences, trying to understand why things happen when and how...

But it's so sweet to spend this time with these precious children.  This week has allowed us to get to know each of them so much better.  It's difficult to get to know the children deeply.  They are always "fine."

As a team, we'll be spending a lot of time this year working through what it means to care for orphans, how to disciple orphans, how to parent orphans, how to reach their hearts and not just meet their physical needs, how to protect and love vulnerable and traumatized children...

But for today... and tomorrow... we'll focus on the here and now, how to give each child a glimpse into God's heart and provide a clearer picture of the Gospel.