Mission trip reflections!

Tuesday, June 26: The Wind in the Pines.

It doesn't matter where you are in the world, the wind in the pines sounds the same. So does the laughter of children, the strum on a guitar, and the "thwack" of a soccer ball as a foot makes contact. Not to mention the smell of lunch cooking and the visual appeal of white fluffy clouds in an azure sky. But above all, there is the universal need to be loved and accepted.

The children here come from broken homes, bad homes, or no homes at all. They are being raised by grandparents, foster parents, or group home parents. But fortunately none of them are being raised by the streets. And even though their short lives have been ruled by uncertainty, they are remarkably open and crave affection - not attention, but affection. 

It's something to walk from one place to another and find a 16-year old quietly slipping her hand into yours, if only for a brief moment. I am a stranger to them, yet they still seek my affection. Hugs and kisses abound and even though there is a language barrier, I still know when I'm being invited to play ping pong, jenga, or paint nails. 

They are beautiful children, and I pray they see themselves as both beautiful and worthwhile. they are God's creation. And like the wind in the pines they are the same as me.

Written by Deb Guinn