A Real Celebrity

This past September, I went on a short-term missions trip to Monterrey, Mexico with a small group from my brother's church.  We met up with an organization called Back 2 Back Ministries who serve the people of Monterrey, Mexico as well as people in Cancun, India, and Nigeria.  Their main focus is to "provide care for today and hope for tomorrow."  Over the course of those few days, my heart was changed and I think about the orphans of the world on a regular basis.  In Mexico, Back 2 Back Ministries assists at "homes" called Casa Hogars which function similar to an orphanage but the children are not completely abandoned.  They have some degree of family but no one to care for them regularly so they live at these homes.

One of the days we were there, we got to take some children to the zoo.  For many of them it was their first field trip.  One of the girls who were a part of little bunch was named Alondra.  She was quiet but opened up a little more as the day went on.  At one point while we were on the bus, she pointed to some mountains and she told me that the United States is on the other side and one day my dad is going to take me there.  I don't know anything about these kids' histories but I was pretty certain this was just a dream.  I could see her wounded spirit and prayed that somehow, these moments with missions teams who come to love and serve as well as her regular care givers would one day begin to heal whatever scars remain from her past.

Our trip to the zoo

Miguel and Michael

There was another boy named Miguel who my brother Michael met last year.  Last year he was fairly new to the casa hogar and my brother tells me that Miguel barely left his side.  This year he was more confident and seemed to be doing well.  Miguel did continue to stick close with us when we were there and he proudly showed us the room he shares with some other boys and the bed where he sleeps.  Actually he sprinted ahead to clean it up when he knew we were on our way to take a look.  Miguel reminded me of my son Zion with his tender heart, a desire to please, and his sensitive soul.  When my brother was saying goodbye, Miguel said to him "you are a good friend."  Those words were so meaningful because really that is all we wanted to be to them.  We know we cannot "fix" all that is broken but we just want to be their friends.  To remind them that Jesus loves them and so do we.

I recently received the magazine that Back 2 Back Ministries publishes to let people know what they are doing at the different locations they serve.  Guess who was on the cover?  Alondra!  I filled up with tears.  I felt like I know a real celebrity.  There was a spread in the middle of the magazine about her and what it is like to live a "Day in the Life of an Orphan."  As I flipped through the magazine, guess who was on the last page with his sweet smile?  Miguel!  I know two celebrities!  It was article written about how much the communication with his sponsors means to him.  I was so proud of them and so excited that I knew them!

Now many of you know that I recently attended the Marine Corps Ball and Justin Timberlake sat at my table.  It was definitely an amazing experience.  There were so many people around our table the whole night, so many camera flashes, so much attention.  And other than the 100 people that came up to get their picture take with him, he seemed like a regular guy.  He told jokes (some not-so-funny ones).  He took pictures for people at our table.  We all laughed through out the evening.  He was very respectful and gracious.  It was a great night and he actually told Tommy and I that we reminded him of his friends.  I was flattered.

Believe me, I got caught up in that moment with Justin Timberlake at my table but really, he doesn't need  me to be his fan.  He's got millions.  Alondra and Miguel do.  The orphans and widows and homeless do.  The people of this world who have been forgotten need fans.  Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for the opportunity to meet Justin Timberlake, especially as he honored the great legacy of the Marine Corps.  But truthfully it doesn't hold a candle to my experience serving in Mexico.  Those children changed my life.  I hope and I pray that I make the most of every opportunity to be a friend to the friendless and give a voice to the forgotten.

Bedtime Battle

The other day we were planning to have some family time to read the bible together with our children.  It was getting late and meltdowns were fast approaching but we were trying to be optimistic.  No matter what we asked Zion (our 5 year old) to do, it was met with whining, protest, or no response at all.  Finally, he was issued a "time out."  This was the start of the meltdown.  He was sent to sit by himself in the bathroom to think about how he could have better behavior while we waited in his bedroom.  I went in to talk to him but he was so upset and unable to listen to anything I was trying to say.  I finally told him that it was getting too late and he was too tired so maybe we should read the bible tomorrow when we were all more rested.  At this point, he was crying, stomping his feet, and screaming (which is pretty unlike him).  He was literally yelling "I WANT TO READ THE BIBLE!" over and over and over.   I had to leave the room before I busted out laughing.  The irony of what he was saying and how he was saying it was too much for me to handle.  At face value, hearing your child say that he/she wants to read the bible is awesome.  However, the way he was saying it was void of love, void of self-control, void of gentleness and void of pure intent.  Instead it was manipulative, rude, and self-seeking.  I could have been fooled and thought something like "wow, he must really love the bible because he's so adamant about wanting to read it."  I have been around kids enough to know this was not the case.

I have thought back on this evening several times and how apparent it was to me that Zion's behavior is not uncommon.  I have known some adults just like this.  They speak of Godly things or quote scripture or boast of their righteousness but little else in their life demonstrates a pure heart.  In Galations 5 it say that the "fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control  . . . some good things to keep in mind when we are looking for evidence of how a person's heart aligns with God's (or where our own heart aligns with God's).  Unfortunately I can think back on times when I have "talked the talk" but my intentions have been selfish and clearly less than pure.  

I pray that Zion will one day truly become this zealous for the things of God and have a sincere desire to read the bible.  In the meantime, I hope that I can be wise enough to know the difference between what he says and where his heart is.   I pray the same for you.  That we would be discerning of what people say and of what "fruits of the Spirit" they may or may not be demonstrating . . . that we would "test all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thes. 5:21).  More than anything, I pray that you or I are not this person.