Love

The above pics are from my day. Traveling to Chihuahua with Mama and Papa, beautiful children, Bony loving on the children and helping me translate, deep talks with the staff about the Lord (thanks to Bony), more precious children, Ramon exercising, our dorm where the team will be staying, the kitchen where we will be eating several meals and the beautiful vista of Chihuahua. I Corinthians 13... "If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end." I’ve been thinking a lot today about love and what that looks like. When you live among orphans things become more obvious. Earthly luxuries are nonexistent and life once again becomes simple. If a child is crying, you comfort them as you would your own children. If they want to play a game with you, you stop become a child again. When the children are hungry, you feed them. When they are tired, you help to tuck them in bed. You wash their dishes, cook for them, cuddle them and laugh with them. It’s actually quite simple. Life is not about us. It’s about ‘them’. This explains why some crazy Americanos visit Lily. Do we come down here for the thrill of living in 104 degree weather without fans or A/C? Perhaps it’s for the privilege of living with cockroaches that are over 2 inches long. Today as I got out of the shower there was a tarantula that greeted me under the bathroom sink. Without any bug spray I have no choice but to hope he will stay put and not surprise me as I try to sleep tonight. (Believe me, I could actually faint at the thought of this.) Despite all this, I feel honored to rub shoulders with the staff who LOVES these kids. They have devoted their lives to loving orphans. I feel like I am in the presence of spiritual giants and I want to learn how to love like them. Tonight as I sleep, besides praying that God will cause a deep sleep to come over me so I wouldn’t think about my hairy roomie, I am praying that God will help me learn how to love deeper. When I return home I pray that there will be less of me and more of HIM.