Matthew West (recording artist) had the idea of asking people to send in letters of their stories. He would rent a cabin and write an entire album based on their letters. He expected 500-600 letters. The letters started pouring in from all 50 states and over 20 different countries. He received over 10,000 letters in which he sorted through, writing songs about heartbreak, suffering, abuse, healing and faith.
It makes me think about some of the kids I see on a daily basis. What do their little eyes see? What have their little ears heard? Where have their little feet walked? It makes me think about their stories. My prayer is that the heartbreak, the divorce, the sadness and sometimes hopelessness turns into a story of redemption for them all. That through their stories, they can see the thread of God weaving each piece of each story together to make them stories of hope and love. That they realize that their Creator is a God that knows every tear that have ever fallen and will ever fall. A God that wants to be their Father, their comforter, their healer.
Here are some of their stories. Please note that the pictures don't necessarily represent the students in the stories. Also, please note that we have students that come from very diverse backgrounds and family lives. I am just stating the reality in which some of these little ones live in/with.
He is tying his shoes and looks up at me and gives me the biggest smile I have ever seen. His smile hides the fact that he is living in a children's home and is orphaned - not because his parents died but because they have been in prison for drug dealing since he was 5 months old and will be there for 10 more years.
Just a moment later, another boy says good morning and holds out his hand to greet me the American way. I shake his hand and he doesn't let go. His eyes light up at any attention from adults. His story is of a boy whose parents divorced. Mom got re-married and therefore disowned her son from a previous marriage. Dad went to make money somewhere else. He is left with his grandparents. While he receives care and love from them, he still is in desperate need for encouragement and attention.
She is one of the first people (including school staff) to come in the morning and leave in the evening. She moved from the village recently and is living with her aunt - the Administrative Assistant at our school. She is quiet and doesn't complain. She told Miss Emily that her parents told her to work hard and be the best so she could have better opportunities and won't have to work as hard as they do later in life. So, she goes at it with full force. 3 weeks into school, she has all planets memorized in order and in English.
She rides to school with us every morning and now will be riding home with us every evening. While her mom works all day doesn't have the transportation ability to pick her up, her unemployed dad just can't seem to get things together to make her a priority.
He rides his bike into the front gate of the school. At first glance, you may think he just came from down the street. In actuality, he started his journey to school about 45 minutes earlier. He left his home and made it to the main road where he catches a song teaw (public transportation truck) and drives about 30 minutes. Then, his little finger presses the red button on the ceiling of the truck to tell the driver to pull over. He gives the driver the coin out of the palm of his little hand and walks to the corner shop where he pays for them to store his bicycle. He picks up his bicycle and bikes 2 KM to our school. This process is repeated in the afternoon. However, there are times where he lingers after school. He could jump straight on his bike and leave the instant school lets out. His lingering tells me he likes the fellowship that the schoolyard has to offer. He is told he isn't as smart as his sister. He's teased about being fat and I witness him sucking in his stomach as far as it'll go while being measured for his uniform because for once, he doesn't want to feel fat. He just got beat up by some kids recently and spent 1/2 a school day at the police station to report the incident. He has the most tender heart that I've ever seen. He plays basketball with me. I shoot and the ball hits the backboard but is no where near making it into the hoop, he looks at me with a smile that reaches his eyes and tells me "good job, teacher." The kid who receives no encouragement (besides at school), is encouraging me!
Everyone has a story. There is no way to explain why some stories have so much hardship. However, each story is unique. The one thing that I do know is each story is known in full by our Heavenly Father. Our Heavenly Father who's desire is to be at the heart of that story. To be the Healer, the Redeemer, and the Savior.
"Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God - you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration - what a creation! You know me inside out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you." Psalm 139 (Message)
20. Markets and the culture that comes with them.
