Suzanne

Today we visited The Nest Children’s Home. It’s interesting to visit these places for the second time, because there isn’t that initial FIRST impression or feeling of not knowing what to expect.. but today I was just really, really happy to be back at the Nest. And really, really happy to see these kids again (some that I recognized from last year!) As soon as we entered the classroom they were in, the kids all sang us songs to welcome us. They were great :) Then we taught them a few songs (This Little Light of Mine, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands—which they knew already, Choose Jesus…) and Erika shared the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den (with the help of some awesome actors—and lions—on our team.) Then we helped them make a lion’s mask craft.

During our initial song-teaching, I ended up in the front where the “song teachers” were. I don’t think I was supposed to be there because I hadn’t actually learned all of the motions with them, but …well, by the time I realized that, it was too late? Anyway, while I was up there, I kept making eye contact with this cuute young-elementary-age girl near the front of the crowd of kids. Whenever I would look at her, a huge, incredibly sweet, almost-embarrassed smile would spread across her face and she would cover her mouth and scrunch up her shoulders. I kept looking back at her during the songs because she just had the happiest… spirit, I guess you could say. Then when the kids were finding their way to the benches to sit during the story, I made it a point to sit with her and start up a conversation. She told me her name was Suzanne and she was seven years old. She didn’t understand a whole ton of English, so our conversation was limited, but I was so drawn in by her sweet smile, I just wanted to hang out with her all day. So I did. :P I sat with her while we made the crafts and smiled at her while we sang Choose Jesus. And we took a picture together and hugged when we said goodbye.

I feel like it’s these small connections with individual children that end up being the most significant experiences of these mission trips for me. I could’ve stayed at the Nest all day just hanging out with Suzanne. :) And while I was with her, I got that familiar feeling of just wanting to make her feel loved and valued and …treasured? And I guess that’s just one way we can show God’s love while we’re here… by loving on these children that have had to deal with such difficult situations already in their short lives. And hopefully our love will somehow reflect the amazing kind of individual love God has for them.