one of my favorite aspects of parenting is when, as the parent,
i have the opportunity to learn from and be inspired by my children.
savannah has been working as an intern at our church all summer,
primarily with the middle school, which is awesome for caroline!
she's doing a fabulous job ( as per the youth pastor).
one of the outreach opportunities our church has is called generation salaam.
we load up several busses with students and adults
(sometimes upwards of 200 folks)
& head over to clarkston.
i've heard that clarkston is the most diverse square mile in the world.
many are refugees and below the poverty level
our adults work with the men and women there by teaching English classes
and business skills.
the students spend time tutoring, playing with,
and sharing with the children.
mainly loving on them for a couple hours.
we seek relationships
strong enough to be able to talk about our faith.
i've had the opportunity to be a part of gen salaam for years
yet seeing an instagram of my girls loving on these beautiful children
was the most powerful inspiration of all.
i've had several sessions falling on wednesday evenings but finally had the opportunity to go.
it's a mission trip
that doesn't require a passport
& only 25 minutes down the highway.
it had to be 90 + degrees.
the girls wear long skirts or pants
most of them had on little to no makeup
yet
their radiance as they hopped off the bus and began to love on those children
is one of the most beautiful things i've ever witnessed....
when i pulled up these images of savannah
( & some of emi when i wasn't there)
i'll be honest
seeing her do what she does & seeing her love for the lord
& for others in action
blew me away.
another moment when i have learned a priceless lesson
& seen Jesus in one of my own...
our noonday statement bracelet was a huge hit
with the little girls...
the children do NOT want us to leave.
when we load the bus, a few of the adults have to stay off
and watch because the little ones have been known to hang on to the bus...
our staff is currently working on an entire
dvd and informational packet for churches who desire to do
something similar in their community.
i can hardly wait until tomorrow night to go again...
Jesus said,
"Let the little children come to me,
and do not hinder them,
for the kingdom of heaven belongs
to such as these."
matthew 19.14
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17 comments:
Beautiful photos. Those really tugged at my heart. The joy that the children felt is really seen in their faces (including the volunteers). Thanks so much for sharing.
Have a beautiful day.
Susie
You know, I've been trying to cry for weeks because I feel so tense and stressed. Seeing these pictures brought tears of happiness to my eyes. This post gave me chills. What you all did/do for these children is amazing. The amount of joy that screams with each picture is amazing. Thank you for bringing them hope. And, thank you for helping me realize how little my problems are when I see things like this.
Beautiful photos, Paige, of love in action. What a wonderful program :)
Paige, I have never commented before, but this post compelled me to let you know what a joyous inspiration you have been to me ... a loyal reader on the opposite coast of the country.
Thank you for all the fun shopping tips, beautiful decorating ideas, gorgeous photographs, yummy recipes you've shared over the years, but most of all for sharing your faith with me.
Your love of your girls and Our Lord radiates all the way to California. May God bless you and all those whose life you touch.
Such precious little faces and your photos are amazing! What a great post.
What a blessing for EVERYONE involved and all of us who get to see your pics! Thanks.
Wow such moving photo's. These young young people are changing lives and they do not even realize the impact they are having on these precious little ones.
You are so right you are on a mission trip without a passport. I have always said there is GREAT need right here in the USA, we do not need to go anywhere else to reach the lost. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings
Curtis & Sherrie Chipley
Wow such moving photo's. These young young people are changing lives and they do not even realize the impact they are having on these precious little ones.
You are so right you are on a mission trip without a passport. I have always said there is GREAT need right here in the USA, we do not need to go anywhere else to reach the lost. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings
Curtis & Sherrie Chipley
What beautiful things your girls are doing. They are shining examples of God's love.
Beautiful children, all of them. Thanks for sharing, they are so inspirational :) I just showed my six year old daughter and she loved them too
This blog is precious! The kids are beautiful...that's one of my most favorite things about doing missions...overseas or in state...the children...they have the most precious spirits and their smiles are radiant. The pictures of your girls with the kiddos are PRICELESS and full of beauty. This gets me all excited for my trip to Kenya in just 2.5 weeks! Enjoy another evening with them.
Wow. Beautiful post. Beautiful pictures. Some of these photos could win awards, Paige. I can't even IMAGINE the feelings welling up within a mother's heart when she sees her own daughters doing something like this. We pray and we model. But then to see it come to fruition... well, it is my greatest hope.
what a fabulous outreach your church family is doing. precious! it is always a blessing to be the hands and feet of christ.
what a fabulous outreach your church family is doing. precious! it is always a blessing to be the hands and feet of christ.
i love your blog and this post is prob my favorite of all. it made me smile and sob. this is what life is all about! i could feel the love of Jesus through the pictures. and the part of about the kids hanging on to the bus...broke my heart. praying for those precious children and for your sweet girls as they share Jesus with them!
Oh, these pictures melt my heart!
you know I'm in love with those little asian girls that I spied in the pics. :)
so glad savanah is having a wonderful summer....can't wait to hear more about what the Lord is showing her and teaching her. wondered what her degree is going to be be from UGA?
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