by Amanda Nydam at Faith Radio
On my recent OneChild trip to a Hope Center in Nicaragua, God hurt my heart in such a good way.
We were welcomed by the leaders and children with traditional songs and dances. We introduced ourselves and were prayed over. Then we broke into groups, made bracelets, and took a thousand pictures! It was beautiful to be invited into someone’s world and welcomed with such gratitude.
In this large room, children were in clusters with others from our group. Friendships were building despite the language barrier. This is when I noticed two younger girls sitting off by themselves with very sullen looks on their faces. A leader was off to the side but obviously near them and glancing in their direction often. The girls were dressed in their traditional clothing and had danced when we first arrived, but neither one had touched their bowl of rice and slice of bread. My first thought was that they were in trouble for something.
The frustration of not knowing the language bothered me; regardless, I felt drawn to sit near them, so I did. I wanted to communicate with words and ask them how they were feeling, but instead, I sat next to them not avoiding eye contact while also taking in the rest of the room.
After a few minutes of simply observing, I overheard some of the leaders talking about needing prayer. I walked over to the group to learn that a mother of children here today had ended her life last night. These words were absolutely heartbreaking to hear. In the next moment, my heart experienced a hurt it had never felt before as I agreed to pray with the children. Two young boys joined us as well.
Sitting at the feet of these children, I looked into their distant brown eyes, knowing their very difficult life had just crumbled and they were numb as they quietly sat in the only safe place they had. It felt so different than hearing that a child was orphaned. The statistics I’d heard suddenly felt so much heavier than I could imagine as I looked at these lives forever changed.
I was able to hold those two little girls as we prayed, and my momma heart broke thinking of how their difficult world had just crashed and gotten harder and I couldn’t use words to comfort them. There is something universal about pain. Our hearts can understand tears as we hold another person and cry with them. I was thankful to be able to hurt alongside them, to know that tears need no interpretation and that they can communicate care not captured in words.
Speaking through an interpreter to those sweet children, I knew what I said was inadequate. There are no words for this moment. The only thoughts that comforted my burdened heart were “Thank God they have OneChild,” and “Thank God they have a sponsor that is helping provide them a place to come and be surrounded by adults that love Jesus.”
They are connected to a church that will continue to love and care for them and keep drawing them to Jesus and His tender perfect love. I know God had prepared them to be surrounded with love, and I pray their sponsor family will somehow understand the immense lifeline God had used them to be.
This encounter created a different kind of urgency for me. I heard God asking me, “Since I’ve provided for your needs, who will you provide for?”
Has God provided for you? Are you able to be a lifeline for a young soul you will most likely never meet? Can you allow yourself to feel the urgency of life and death for a child in need thousands of miles away? Are you brave enough ask God what He would have you do … and then do it?
I thank God for this encounter because it hurt my heart in a way I never want to forget. It helps me trust where God leads me and to love with urgency.
