In the Heart of Every Child
During our January trip to Peru it happened again: the same thing that first happened in Venezuela years ago, and which continued to happen down through the years of ministering to the orphans in both Venezuela and Honduras. There I was, looking into the innocent and longing eyes of a little boy…only, for the moment I was looking back at my own self; I had been that little boy not too long ago. He simply asked for a toy. And memories flooded my heart. Painful memories, because I knew. I knew what he was feeling, and I wished I could have given each and every child in that orphanage his very own toy that day. You see, at 12 years of age my childhood ended. I was pulled out of school and I went to work full-time, to give every paycheck to my family; that is just how it was! But from my earliest memories as a toddler until the age of 12, I longed each Christmas for a toy. Many other children got them. I would spend time thinking about what it would be like to have a toy of my very own. Each Christmas, though, was like the one before and the one after, without a single gift or toy. There was only one year in all of those twelve years that I received a toy of my very own: it was a small car—not the cast-iron type you see today from Matchbox—but a flimsy, plastic car, like the sort you would pull out of a Cracker Jacks box. I cherished that tiny car, shoddy as it was, and tried to preserve it for many years.
Today, some of my greatest joys come from giving to other children the very things I only dreamt of receiving when I was a child. And while we were not able to give to each and every boy their own toy this year in Santa Maria Children’s Home, we were able to purchase a few spinning tops, some marbles, and another small toy that they could share as a group. Because of your giving and faithfulness, we were very blessed to be able to purchase a total of 61 other presents each boy truly needed: tennis shoes, jeans, and a nice shirt for each boy. They were eagerly awaiting our arrival, knowing that this time it meant a gift for them each, not to mention the cake, ice cream, and sodas that they only receive whenever we are there to purchase such “extras”. We also paid the monthly cable, electric, and gas bills, and filled up their pantry with needed food to last them a few weeks. Though the bills and pantry supplies are now normal for us to cover for them each month, I always like to thank you for this, because without your faithful giving their orphanage would not be able to have these supplies.
Once again this month Rosa ministered to the children with the Word of God. The older children were paying close attention. The things that we teach them they have never truly heard before; they have been well versed in rituals and religious instruction, but we are bringing to them the Living Word that is able to transform them. There is one young man in particular, Franco, who only reads with one eye, and even that is only when he holds the Bible about one inch away from that good eye. When I ask questions about the Bible to test the boys’ knowledge, Franco is the one that always answers; he listens well. Every time we come to Peru he asks us, “Are you going to be teaching us the Word of God?” He loves the Word! Even though he is challenged in some of his physical abilities, he is a very smart young man and we see him hungering for God and laying a hold of whatever Bible teaching we give. Back in November, when Rosa taught on the Holy Spirit and made a salvation call for those who wanted to give their lives to Christ, Franco was the first to respond and come to the altar, and he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior, knelt down, and raised his hands. Beloved, moments like that, and simply being able to minister in each and every way the Lord enables us, is what makes your giving powerful!
We never want you to give out of duty or compulsion. We only want people to give because their hearts feel joyful to do so, and because they are compelled to give from that with which the Lord has blessed them. I pray the Lord supplies not only for your needs, but that you would also joyfully continue to sow seeds into this harvest field, as the Lord enables.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Loving the least of these,
Tony and Rosa
Homes of Refuge International
