not to us

Today was full of emotions.  Getting up this morning and walking out the door with my husband to take another step in God's direction together was AWESOME.  Eating a Fruit-n-Yogurt Parfait from McDonald's was nearly equally awesome.  :) 

Okay, not really, but those things are good!  :) 

Walking into a classroom with thirty people who want to help children in need was very encouraging.  Learning that over half of them were there simply to help their own family was kind of sad for me.  I don't know why.  I guess it just brought it home that these children have families.  I knew that, theoretically.  Seeing those family members was a whole different thing all together, though.  Learning about the DCS policies and expectations of foster parents was WONDERFUL, because it confirmed that I do, in fact, know what I'm getting in to.  At least as much as a person can on this side of the deal.  Realizing exactly how neglected and/or abused these children might be when they come to us was heart-breaking.  Realizing there's something we can do to help break the cycle was empowering.

And then there was lunch.

LOL!  I'm just kidding...but not really.  It was a lot of info for one day.  Thankfully, it was mostly stuff that I already knew.  (Hey, ask anyone who knows me really well:  I'm an absolute researching whacko when it comes to big life changes.  I'll know more about it than the actual people who do it for a living most of the time.  No joke.  My college degree in this area helps, too.)

Anyway...it was a heavy day.  So, we ended the day by going to see "Date Night."  It was a HILARIOUS mood-lifter.  There is one scene that is slightly raunchy, but the comedic nature of the entire scene sort of negates the raunchiness.  Does that make any sense?  Certainly not a movie for teenagers, but fine for adults.   (In my opinion.)  Anyway, we laughed until we cried.  Then laughed until we couldn't breathe.  Then laughed until we nearly pee'd our pants.  It was great.

Then we came home and received a new letter from Pracidia.  I was SO excited to hear from her.  She thanked us for her Christmas gifts, then informed us that her brother died at the beginning of February.  The goat that I got her for her birthday also died.  I don't know the specifics of either death, but I'm wondering if there was a sickness that affected both Pracidia's brother and goat.

You know, it's one thing to hear the statistic that 30,000 children die each day of starvation or lack of basic medical care.

It's a completely different thing all together when I think of the little girl I love.  It's completely different when I pull out the first letter Pracidia ever sent to me: dictated by her, written by her older brother.  And now he's gone.  Her helpful older brother, who took the time to sit down with her and write a letter for her, is gone.  She asked me to pray for eternal peace for him.  And I certainly pray, with all of my heart, that he had a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Instead, I can't help but focus on my precious girl.  I can't help but focus my prayers on her mother who, just ten days after her son's death, sat down with her daughter to transcribe a letter to her sponsor. 

And that weighs heavy on my heart tonight.  Even in a country where Compassion is actively involved...even in a family where one child is sponsored...the ill effects of extreme poverty are still felt in profound ways.  We can do something about this.  We must not lose hope in doing good works.  My continued support of Pracidia's family and my love and prayers and encouraging words can help her see that God is still taking care of her family.  He hasn't turned away.  He will never leave her, nor forsake her.

In a time when she feels grieved and possibly very lonely, I can be there for her.  In a time when children in Indiana are facing the biggest crises of their lives, I can be there for them.

This brings a whole new meaning to being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. 

It's been a FULL day.  God is aiming for my heart, and He's hit the bullseye.

Thank you again, God, for letting me play a part in your Story.