Love Started it All Feb. 2016
When God asked us to move to Quimistan, Honduras to build a home for neglected, abused and/or orphaned children, our response was not an immediate “Yes!” Sam and I were in our retirement years, did not speak very much Spanish, and hoped to travel. However, as followers of Jesus Christ, we knew it was in our best interest to be obedient to His call “to go and make disciples” even if He meant in a foreign country and not simply in our local community.
This January, we celebrated our third year of living in Quimistan permanently. It has been challenging to say the least. There have been days when I wondered if I had heard the Lord’s direction correctly. When, even if I had, I wanted to return to my North American life, family and friends. Days when we felt isolated due to cultural and language differences. Days when it was just too hard…period!
On our third anniversary, we celebrated not just with each other but also with our staff and five children and counting. On November 30, 2015, Tranquilidad, Home for Children received its first child, a young boy who lost his family in a tragic incident. Within eleven days, we had received three baby boys, aged 2 months, 5 days, and 12 days. In early January, we received our first little girl of 9 months. Tranquilidad is now truly a HOME.
The Lord has given me and Sam a love for each child that we do not really understand but for which we are grateful. Having only one son of my own, I am just now understanding how you can love all ‘your’ children but love them differently. Our 3 year old, loves to give kisses, take walks with Papa Sam, and watch “Benji” but has little attention for coloring. Our “princess” loves to blow bubbles with her saliva:) and is learning to walk with help. The now 4 month old is making sweet sounds as he discovers his voice. The two 2 month olds are growing and beginning to spend more awake time and their little smiles melt my heart.
Now our days are longer and fuller and when I think I don’t have the energy to keep up, I hear a gurgle from one of these little ones that inspires me to “keep on keeping on”.
It is a privilege to serve a Risen Savior, who first loved us, died for us and sought us to claim as His own. Please continue to pray for Tranquilidad, our staff and our children, and for God’s financial provision.
Roxanne