Monday, March 25, 2013

Hosanna

Yesterday was Sunday- church day. As I sat and listened (of course, seeing everything through "Guatemala goggles" now), I had a mini revelation. Here's what happened:

Pastor Pat was talking about what Jesus accomplished when he came, died, and rose again. I've heard the Gospel and the Easter sermons and I know that God came and died for our sins to be forgiven. But sins isn't a word most people use. That's Bible talk. Only a Christian knows what "sin" means. So to be honest, sometimes it's hard to really be emotionally invested and wholeheartedly grateful for the forgiveness of such a vague and undefined term. So what makes this sermon different from any other? It all boils down to one phrase the pastor used to describe what God did when he sent Jesus to Earth: Jesus was on a search and rescue mission.

This immediately brought my thoughts to Operation Baby Rescue. More specifically, Carlos (the founder of this ministry) talking so passionately about saving the babies. Carlos saw sick and starving children, and he knew it was God telling him to do something about it. So he built a rescue center. Some mothers come to the center on their own; they walk for hours to bring their children there. But not all of them. Some are still up in the mountains- either because they don't know there's hope, they don't think anything could save them anyway, they're too scared, or they're too stubborn. So what does Carlos do? He goes after them. He says sometimes you have to be Mother Teresa, but sometimes you have to be a lion. In order to save these precious lives, he has to risk his own. Sometimes he has to forcibly remove them from abusive situations. Sometimes the parents threaten to kill him. But it's important so he goes after them anyway.

I wish you could hear the passion and determination in Carlos' voice, because that's what really hits home with me. The earnestness, the urgency in his voice as he talks about the rescues...Imagining God saying those things and feeling that way about us.... It moved me to tears. I already believe in Christ's sacrifice, and I have already been born again as a believer. But I have always been a visual learner, have always been more impacted by a picture or a movie than just words. And this parallel between Carlos' passion for rescuing the sick and dying children of Guatemala and God's passion for rescuing the lost and broken souls of His children really struck a chord with me. What great and powerful love it takes for such a sacrifice! Carlos has risked his life for the Guatemalan babies. Jesus GAVE HIS UP. He went all the way. Just as the babies haven't donated money or built a school or done anything to "deserve" salvation, neither have we. But God saved us anyway.

Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Broken Heart for a Broken World

As a college junior, I am asked quite frequently what I plan to do with my degree. And the truth is, I don't have a clue. The people closest to me know that my heart beats for children. Just seeing a child from across the room brightens my day. A child's smile or laughter is the most incredible thing. My heart breaks for every child that doesn't have someone to hug them and love them and play with them and tell them how precious they are. I mourn for child victims of any kind in any place. What do I want to do after graduation? Reach as many children as I can with love. But how do you turn loving children into a career?

My first thought was school teacher. Clearly, they work with children all day. (That's how this blog came into existence- it was originally a companion to my fake class website, and a place to respond to assigned prompts). But after two years of hearing, "Where's your teacher voice?", "You need to be a little louder?" and "Try not to look so nervous", I decided that teaching wasn't in the cards for me. Teaching was never my calling or my passion. But if not that, then what? I finally settled on psychology, with a child and family emphasis. However, I don't think that is where my career will go. One of the most important things a therapist needs to be able to do is to be able to distance themselves from the problems and emotions of the client. You're not being any help to anyone if you're sobbing right along with them. And I can tell you, I would definitely be needing a Kleenex.

Then, Noel Yeatts from World Help came to Cedarville and talked about Operation Baby Rescue. Think about that name: Operation. Baby. Rescue. That was just...perfect. EXACTLY the sort of thing that would stand out to me, a lover of all things babies with a huge passion for the ones who are hurting. I sat silently through her presentation, with tears streaming down my face. When it was over I turned to Derek, and with one look at me he said, "We need to go talk to her." Thank goodness he went with me, because I could hardly speak without bursting into tears. She said I could sign up to be kept informed of what's going on with World Help and OBR, and that there might be a trip in the works for spring.

I couldn't get OBR off my heart and mind. No chapel message has ever stuck with me as long. I knew I had to get involved. So I started fundraising. My goal: to raise enough money to cover the cost of rescuing one child ($1200) by the end of the year. I ended up $150 short, but still, I was so encouraged by the support I got. Especially from my "broke" college friends. (If you'd like to help with that last $150, you can do so here: http://rescue.worldhelp.net/MelissaandDerek ) :)

When I found out that there was going to be a trip with OBR, I knew I had to go. God must be keeping OBR on my heart for a reason. It just so happened that it took place the week AFTER spring break, which meant missing a week of classes and two weeks of work. But I got permission from my professors, leave from work, and the approval of my parents.

And so it was that last week, I went to Guatemala. Now, I need my blog back. This time, I need it to sort out my thoughts, reactions, prayers, memories, plans, emotions, tears, smiles, and pain. My heart broke for the brokenness in Guatemala, but it also found hope. I remade this blog to reflect the change in its purpose. God has also made me over to reflect the change in my purpose, and as I work through all the implications and emotions and struggles, and as Guatemala weighs on my thoughts, I pray that writing here will help me to learn and grow, and to never forget.