If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not loved, I gain nothing.

Every time I sit down to work on the blog, I’m reminded loud and clear that another week that has gone by. Arg. This week has taught me a ton about love and servant hood, and that’s what I’d like to share with you today. The lesson I’m learning is applicable to anyone. When I leave in a month (one month!) I’ll still need to remember this lesson. Lately, I’ve notived a very obvious, distinctive pattern in my behavior. A child approaches me with a problem, and as he/she begins to speak, I hear nothing. To me, it's the same kid that came up to me minutes ago. I hear the same problem, the same sad story, I don’t understand why the same kid is back again. I don’t listen. Or maybe I half-listen, half-pretend. Then I say something like, “I’m busy” or “I don’t care” or “I don’t have time right now.” How awful?? This week I read 1 Corinthians 13, and although it’s a chunk of scripture that’s pretty familiar and it easy to skim over, I couldn’t get past it. In His sovereignty, the Lord forced me to look at it over and over again. And learn from it.

1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

First, He showed me that this is the way in which I am to love the children. With patience and kindness, not harshness and with pride. I hold the key to the bedroom of 38 young girls, but that doesn’t give me the right to treat them however I want. Each child is a little human being, who has feelings and hurts and wishes and dreams. Who am I to treat them as if they are just another number? Who am I? A lowly sinner, just like the rest, given responsibility by the Lord to love these little ones in a very specific way.

Love isn’t easily angered. That’s tough. When the same two kids continue to find their fists intertwined with one another in a silly fight, love still isn’t angered. I can respond in anger and let my words fly, or I can respond in love. As I worked through this passage, the Lord showed me time after time that I fail to love the kids the way that He has clearly laid out.

Love always protects. The odds of injuries occurring, whether accidental or with purpose, are very good, considering the number of kids that live here. It is my duty to protect these kids from physical hurt. Not only from physical injuries, but emotional wounds that other kids (and the staff, myself, included) can inflict with harsh, piercing words.

Love always perseveres. This is hard, when the problems and concerns of the day seem to far outweigh any fruit that is reaped. I am called to persevere in my love for them. To hug the child that, in anger, flailed her arms at me earlier. To kiss the one who constantly bullies the three year old.

The more I read this scripture and relived situations in which I failed to love, the more overwhelmed I felt. How Lord? How is this possible? How can anyone love in this way? And then God spoke to me. I love you in this way. I have always loved you in this way.
You’re right, Lord. I am just as unruly and undisciplined as the worst of the kids here. I don’t listen when You warn me against something, disobey when Your direction is clear, treat You as if You don’t have authority in my life.

Without me, you can’t love anyone else.

How humbled I felt at that moment. I was looking at the situation, and worked myself up over how I was going to fix it, without looking at the Lord. Without first looking at who the Lord is. He is Love. And if I’m not acknowledging that primarily, “I gain nothing.” Without the love of our Father I am nothing and can give nothing.

Be encouraged by this, wherever you are. Whatever the Lord has for you today. Let’s praise God for the way that He has loved us and continues to love us. His love never fails. He has given us His very life so that we can experience joy. By His grace, only by His grace, are we able to experience this love through Him and through fellowship with His people. Let us praise Him for this today.

Okay, on the the photos (and a few videos, for once).

I was searching through my pics, hoping for lots of the Michigan group who stayed with us this past week, but I was pretty disappointed. Hopefully Mary Ellen will have a few more. This group was fantastic- such a blessing to me. They worked hard from the minute they arrived, and still found lots of time to love on and minister to the kids. Thank you for serving the staff and kids of Lily. Thank you for being a reminder of Jesus Christ, the Servant. It's easy to be in a routine, even the crazy routine at Lily of the Valley Orphanage, and forget my purpose- to serve the Lord in whatever it is He has planned for me to do. This week I was reminded of how precious the kids are, how crucial the staff are, the lofty responsibilty that the Lord has given me for this short time that I'm here, and how good our God is. Thank you for being so intentional with your words and actions, and being an example of Godliness to me. I hope that the trip blessed you and that you've drawn closer to the Lord through you week here. To the church that supported this group in coming, thank you for your continual prayers for this place- for caring so much for your many children here. Mama and Papa were blessed by this visit, I know. Thank you for the way that you ministered and served them.


Men from the group are seen here slaving away in the kitchen, preparing over 200 pancakes for breakfast.



The finished product. I was very impressed.





The amazing cinnamon rolls that Linda and friends prepared for us TWICE during her stay. (Pictured with Cielo.)



Here's a video of Fred chatting with some of the girls. They kids loved spending time with him...I think because he's such a good listener. These girls are talkers. :)



Spending time with he kids outside is probably in my top 3 favorite things to do. Here's a little of that time.























Antonio and one of his older sisters, Ana.



Andrea is using the NEW WATER FOUNTAIN! One of the men from the Michigan group worked on this every night after the kids went to bed. I wish I had Mama's reaction captured on film when she saw it. "Oh wow, oh, wow!" were her exact words. She was thrilled. Thanks Chilo!



And, here's a little singin' from Andrea. Can't quite carry and tune.



Jay and Tracy, this one's for you. I asked Ana to say hello to you all, and she totally became camera shy. We all know that Ana is NOT shy at all.



The following are a cluster of some of the many photos the kids took with my camera this week. It happens all the time. Somehow they get away with it without me noticing. Or I give them permission to use it, but it doesn't get returned for half an hour. Makes me nervous sometimes...

Love you, Merm.





Merm and I danced a little after the amazing staff appreciation dinner the Michigan group held for us. Thank you! Linda, in all pink (of course) is in the background. Linda, thanks for the way that you serve the kids and staff here. Thank you for ministering to Mary Ellen and I during your short stay with us. We will pray that your house sells and final details are worked out quickly so that you and Gary can make the final move here, soon. It's so obvious that your heart is here.









Pray that God will give me the grace to love the kids with His love (especially these two right here).




Peace,
Lauren