GUATEMALA Wednesday 5/8/13

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.    Isaiah 40:28-31

“He’s the God of This City”

This morning our devotion Scripture came from Isaiah 40. At a point in the week when fatigue can begin to creep up and set in, it is a beautiful reminder that our hope is found only in Christ. He is our strength, our portion, our hope. And he is everlasting!

Today was our third day at the Center. It has truly been wonderful to get to know these children. We have often tried to imagine how hard it must be for the parents and families to leave their children for however long they need to be at the Center. Fortunately, most of the children are visited by their families, but a few of these families come from very far away and are unable to visit the children after they drop them off. It may be a year or two before they get to see them again. I cannot imagine the sorrow they feel, or the love exemplified in this way. These parents know that the children will be well cared for at the here. They know this may be the child’s only hope of surviving. But still. It has to hurt.

Some of the children arrive at the Center when they are older, but the majority of the kids are very young. Those that arrive as babies may have few, if any, memories of home. They often call us mama, and every time they do, you feel a tugging in your heart that words can’t quite describe.

We were able to get a special glimpse into the heart of this ministry here in San Juan today.  There is a photo book of before and after pictures of many of the kids who come through these doors; a photo for when they arrive, and a photo for when they leave/have been here a long time. Now, many of these before pictures are absolutely heartbreaking. They speak of pain, poverty, and sadness that we will probably never know. For many of these children, there was no hope before coming to the Center. But do not be discouraged! Those pictures are not the end of the story, for there is an after picture, and that makes all the difference!

While in the break room at the Center today, I came across the lyrics to a song that seems especially appropriate for this time and this trip. I leave you with them:

You're the God of this city,
You're the King of these people,
You're the Lord of this nation,
You Are!

You're the light in this darkness,
You're the hope to the hopeless,

You're the peace to the restless,
You are!

For there is no one like our God,
There is no one like You God.

For greater things have yet to come,
And greater things are still to be done,
In this city!
Greater things have yet to come,
And greater things are still to be done here!