Our home is situated behind to very prominent schools. Ironically, both schools are known for being very rich. It's quite a sight every morning as moms and dads in lexus, bmw, benz and the highest class of korean sedans pull while we walk our kids to their school which is about 2 blocks away. (Quick socioeconmics of Korea: Most people do not own cars here, and, I believe, to own one is a sign of being pretty well off. But if you were to drive a foreign car, and on top of that a luxury line, that usually means that you are of the highest class-- CEOs, politicans, etc) Teachers wearing white gloves and high heels open shiny doors with its shiny handle and greet the children who are decked out in their elementary school uniform- green shorts, yellow shirt, matching yellow cap. Obviously, the children in our home isn't especially fond of these kids and usually gives them a quick side glance before briskly walking away.
The thing that always gets me though is that if you were to take a child from that super rich school and take one of our kids and place them side by side, there would be very little difference. I've seen a few of these kids coming out of those nice cars and shoo! our kids are cuter, quicker and I bet smarter than a lot of them! Ok, there's some biases in there but still~ no difference. Yet, one child gets everything that they can hope for and the other, doesn't even have a parent to dress them in the morning and give them a hug goodbye. So unfair.
I actually got to hear some of the stories of the older girls with whom we are living. They were having a lot of fun telling me their past, laughing at how ridiculous they must have seemed and comparing how close of a call it was during when x,y,z. Although it seems a bit weird and sadistic to be laughing in such situation, it's really that or to cry. I am sometimes amazed at how much laughter and playfulness these kids have at times. One minute a child will be crying for her dad and then they see kids outside running around and laughing and she will laugh along too! I just hope that the laughter isn't just a cover up for something much darker but that the laughter is just a reverberation of the true joy that is inside.
How can these kids have joy, someone may ask? I am learning that God especially is near those who are poor and fatherless and His heart breaks more of these than any other. In that way, He will pour out more to them than to us who are well loved on earth. Because if you think about it, how else would someone be able to experience love if they don't have anything but their broken bodies and broken hearts? God mends those bodies and hearts as a means to show love to them.
Here's a bit of one of the girls' story.
She was placed in this home when she was 6 years old (5 in American age). Before then she was placed in two other homes. Before then she was living with an alcholic father and a neglient mother. Her father would regularly beat her upon returning home from drinking. Her mother seems to be out of the picture most of the time. Multiple times, she was left behind in a public place but each time she ended up running into a relative who took her back home. The last night at her home she was witnessing her mother getting severly beaten by her father when she all of a sudden remembered her grandfather's number which he had only told her once before. She said it just surfaced in her mind and she immediately went over to the neighbors and dialed it. After her grandfather came and saw the situation, he took her away and was placed in a home. She now thinks that God was helping her through all of those situations especially the last one.
In such way, I believe that God will show his love and soverignity in all of these kids' lives. Our God uses the weak to mock the strong and the wise. I am expecting great miracles to happen here and healing to take place. And I want to made poor so that I too may experience the glory of God.
For those who haven't seen it yet, you need to watch this documentary about the powerful works that God is doing in the world. It's called "Finger of God" and it's on Youtube. In the middle of it I just had to stop and go to my room and cry out to God in praise. So amazing how great our God is and we don't even know it yet! Watch it and let me know what you think!
Ok, this update is getting to be like a 5 page essay sorry for those at work/class but one last thing. We offically started staff prayer this Monday! PTL! The first meet was a bit awkward b/c only one person showed up and she happened to be the only non-Christian who had signed up to come. But the next few times have been not as awkward. I hope to bring in some powerful prayer and in the end see powerful results. Perhaps I am coming off as one of those people in the Bible who asked for a sign and Jesus rebukes them by saying "you wicked and adulterous generation!" but I am not saying this out of doubt. More like, to see more of his kingdom?
Thanks for your prayers, all! It's working!
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