The beautiful children of Liberia are never far from my mind. Whether celebrating a holiday, attending a church service, working with the students in my classroom, or bumming around the house, they are there with me. I can see their faces. I can hear their voices. God has kept the ache for these specific children alive in my heart throughout the past seven years. Praying that God would break your heart for the things that break His is a scary thing to do, and mine has been broken (repeatedly) for the children of The Children’s Rescue Center/King’s Arms Academy in Liberia. I feel blessed that God continues to call me to be part of a team that ministers to the 90+ children here, though. I have seen blank stares fill with the light that the hope of Jesus puts in their eyes. I have watched them grow academically--becoming readers and thinkers. I have seen them maturing into young men and women who, I pray, will be culture changers making an impact for the Kingdom in their generation. The continued transformation is beautiful, inspiring, and exciting!
On July 14, we will be head back to Liberia--two teams, two weeks each. This year we will have a team of eight--it will be neat to see how God uses each individual to minister to different children! Over this period, we will be serving the children and staff of the Children’s Rescue Center Orphanage and The King’s Arms Academy. We will have the privilege of encouraging the orphanage staff and teachers, facilitating teacher workshops, leading a Bible study with some of the kids, implementing a reading incentive program, helping out with projects/work at the school and orphanage, planning those beautiful outreach trips with the kids to another orphanage, and spending time with the kids-- ministering to them, pouring into them, playing with them, having intentional conversations with them, and loving on them! As is the goal every time we visit, we are aiming to be the hands and feet of Jesus as we work and play alongside the kids and adults. While these children know about Jesus, they rarely get to see a Christian life lived out with integrity and authenticity. It is my prayer and deep desire that these kids receive a glimpse, through us, of what their loving and gentle Heavenly Father looks like so that they desire to be in relationship with Him! As we continue to invest in the lives of these children by being present on a regular and consistent basis, trust is built, and it opens doors for conversations and opportunities that might not normally occur.
We look forward to having you along for this journey . . . your prayers and partnership are crucial to this ministry and we're excited to show you how God is at work in our lives and in the lives of the children of Liberia!
Blessings,
Whitney
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