The time is up, my work is done. No, it is not yet time for me to leave this place, nor am I close to being done with all of the work that I will do here, but one monumental task is complete. After more than a month working with the Chispas, as their house mother, I have been relieved of my position. With this comes a bittersweet colliding of emotions. I am in many ways glad to be done. It was a tiring job. Hours of work, stress on emotions and frustration when the children refuse to do even the simplest of tasks. Yet, ask any mother and she will say that the same. I am not saying any of this to complain, but to recognize the sheer amount of work that so many women I know do. I am sorry to say I have taken their work for granted. On the other side of things, I am sad to go. In the past month I have grown closer to those little girls. Each one (yes, even the one I find so hard to love), has wormed her way into my heart. I will miss my special moments with them at night. I will wish to again see them glancing my way, looking for approval. Because of these moments, I would not trade my time as a "mother" for anything.
The past month has done more for me than just strengthening my bond with the kids. It was another step in my process of refinement. I know that I could not have made it through one day without the strength given to me by God the Father. When my tormented little girl screamed, cried, and tried to hit herself for over an hour, I would have liked to leave. God however, gave me patience, that is not normally mine, to sit with, pray for, and hold this precious child until she could calm down. In many situations like this, I saw how much I was lacking, yet God was there. He provided the strength to get up in the morning and keep me going through the day. Like is promised in Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." God did not leave me or forsake me. While you may be thinking, "Come on Elizabeth, its only a month." I tell you, a month can seem like a very long time when you are in the middle of it, and I praise God for His faithfulness. I now pray that God will use the time I spent with the girls to be a benefit in their futures, that they would not remember the many times I was impatient or upset, but remember the conversations we had of God's love and how he is their Father.
So while there are many things, important in the eyes of many, that I cannot do, there is something I can. I can take care of kids, and I can make a difference. Why do I worry so much about the small things, the things I "can't" do, when I can come here, at twenty years old, being no one out of the ordinary, and help these kids? All they need is love and care. I can love because God the Father first loved me. He gave me parents who showed me what it means to care for their children and to love them with God's love. So these precious children need care and love? That I can do.
Here are some pictures from the past few weeks. Many more are to come.
Rosita, my little sweetheart.
Isabel and Heydi, Sisters excited for Pizza.
The Luces (older girls) waiting for that Papa John's Pizza....
Baby Yessica and her Big Sister Rosita.
The Amigos, ready to eat the 6, 7, or 8 slices of pizza.
Me with some of my girls. (L to R Oriana, Heydi, and Sofia)
Brigitte, who is now home with her forever family.
Cristina decided she wanted to re-pierce her ears after the had completely closed. Heydi offered to help.
Maybe that wasn't such a good idea.
Rosa prepping for school. :-)
Writing their books
Sofia and Heydi
Having some girl time (L to R Heydi, Sofia, Cristina, and Oriana)
End of Summer outing to the Beach!
Josue
Abraham
Alejandro
One of the restaurants at the beach let the kids eat the food we brought for them at their tables.
On a spacious (and not at all packed) micro. (Micro are the public transportation we take everywhere)
Waiting for their first day of school to start.
Rosa had a few extra weeks of summer vacation, so she hung out with me.
Too Cute. Yessica and Jose Luis
Lisa and Stephanie on one of our weekend outings.
The outside of a micro
Taking a Taxi home from church. (I am in the trunk taking the picture)
Huanchaco
Lisa, Bryson, Sam, and Christy
This is inside an old ruin in Moche called Huaca de Sol. It is a temple where people were sacrificed to the gods.
The other part of the ruins... still being restored.
Here is where the old city was.
Mountain of the god.
Painted on the walls were the six steps to the human sacrifices.
Lisa and Michi
Nathan and Bryson
Nathan and Michi
Different parts of the little town called Moche.
This is a part of the longest mural in South America.
These Toledo signs are everywhere. They remind me of home.
The Albergue from the road.
