Oceans. Have you ever thought about how many drops of water it would take to fill an ocean? As I spent hour after hour flying over the water I was hit by how overwhelmingly HUGE the Atlantic Ocean is.
Over the past week I have struggled with facing ocean-sized-realities that with all that is in me I want to fix. Babies that cannot get adopted because of a freeze, street children who are left utterly alone in this world, children that I so wish had the love and support I had growing up. As we have pretty well settled into life in Soddo, I find that day by day my eyes are opened more and more to the reality of life here. It is a good town full of great people, but even in my little bubble of life here there is need. Along with facing those harsh realities, I have been struck with the fact that I am one person, totally and completely incapable of solving the world's problems. If I could though, believe me, I would!
Even after two and a half short months here I came to doubt myself; I wondered if going to the orphanage and spending time with the kids there was enough. After all, I am not with them all the time, and what is a few hours of love in the grand scheme of their lives? This is the question I took to The Lord last night: "Lord, you called me here. Am I doing all that you have on the table for me?"
This morning I got up and began my trek to the baby home dodging motor bikes and donkeys all along the way. Upon arriving I went about the normal routine of greeting the staff, getting hugs and handshakes from the older children, and making my way to the baby room. As I sat there with the little ones this morning, softly humming Baby E to sleep I felt the gracious arms of Christ wrapping around me. "This, my child, is exactly where I have planted you. Spread my love." I looked into Baby E's eyes and stroked his tight curls, and as his face broke into a smile I knew that I was indeed doing everything in my power to bring the love of Jesus into their lives. And the beautiful part is, without even knowing it, they are doing the same thing in my life.
Sharing love, that is what I am here to do... Giving the thing that my life is overflowing with. Yes, my influence is just a drop in the ocean, but without that drop the ocean would not be complete.
