God asks us to love the children

I was so proud of our mission team to Orphanage Emmanuel in Guaimaca, Honduras. We were diverse in so many ways, and yet God used us for a single purpose - loving children. It was in the using of us that we learned a lot of things about ourselves and about how God works in this world. We were young, and we were retired. We were male, and we were female. We were conservative and not so conservative. We were grandparents, and we were yet to be parents. We were tall, and we were short. We had a variety of skills to share on behalf of Christ and the precious children of Orphanage Emmanuel. We were God’s people, and we were available for one week of loving children, and we were blessed.

She is 12 years old and has one sister and two brothers - all at the orphanage. She and her younger sister have broken front teeth yet their smiles are still contagious. I was present when Dr. Frank Waggoner repaired her smile. She was so brave and so glad to see her smile be whole again. This family of four came to Orphanage Emmanuel just a few weeks ago among 32 children who needed a home. When they arrived, they were so distraught and not quite sure of this place they were now going to call home. But nonetheless, there they were and it was up to them to adjust. Her name is Vilma Carolina, and she is beautiful. It is hard to understand how she and her siblings could be without a home. She is so easy to love.

I promised Vilma that Sharon and I would pray for her every day. I promised her that we would put her photo on our refrigerator and think of her every day. I promised her we would send her letters and remember her birthday and remember her at Christmas. Maria Wold translated for me as I told her that she would not be forgotten by us. She has been abandoned, and I’m not quite sure she believes me. But, I am determined to help her have faith in a human being one more time. I am determined to help her know that God loves her. I am determined.

There are children just like Vilma all over this world who need love and reassurance that they haven’t been forgotten. Can we touch them all? No. But we can touch those that God puts in our path. We can look for opportunities to be vessels of God’s love for children - young and old. It doesn’t matter their address. It can be Guaimaca, Honduras or Hall County, Georgia. Children are children, and they need to know of God’s love and hope. We are God’s people, and we have love to show and give. I am determined, how about you?