Yesterday a few from our team were asked to come and sing at this open-air market crusade. When we first got there I was looking around and found a nice place to sit and watch and just see what the whole thing was about. I saw these kids down by the water and kids playing in the grass and decided I would rather go join them than sit and listen to the preacher preach in a language I don’t understand… there were three little girls that caught my eye in particular so I sat down to join them. Three beautiful girls about the age of three or maybe four… one was playing with a razor blade, one with a small dead bird and the other with an old electrical wire. Ahh it just was not ok in my heart. I got rid of the bird right away and just sat down to play with them… using the wire in any way I could think and trying to distract the other girl from cutting up her shoe with the razor. All that kept running through my head was that these girls are worth so much more than being huddled around playing with such things. There are all these little open stands around and I had remembered seeing nail polish so I grabbed my friend, KC, and went to find some. I came back to find that the girls had moved and I was afraid that they may have left all together but I found them down by the water and I went to join them… I pulled out the nail polish and instantly had a crowd of little girls and boys all around me- waving their little fingers and toes everywhere! I wanted them to know that they are beautiful and that they are seen and important. Sometimes it is really frustrating to not be able to speak to the kids (they don’t learn English until they are in the older grades and even then they are shy to use it)… I want to be able to tell them so many things. I suppose I just have to trust that Jesus is able to speak without words of their worth and value through time spent and through nail polish.
As we were getting ready to drive away one of the girls that had followed me to the car stood there smiling and waving with her purple finger nails and I was comforted by the quote: “Preach the gospel always, when necessary use words.” st. francis assisi.
As we were getting ready to drive away one of the girls that had followed me to the car stood there smiling and waving with her purple finger nails and I was comforted by the quote: “Preach the gospel always, when necessary use words.” st. francis assisi.
Amen, Sister! You live out that quote in everything you do. I love you!
Fantastic. Great word Cherise!
I love that you watch first to see where God would use you. Those first three little girls were sought out twice by you, to be loved on and prayed for – amazing example of the heart of Jesus.
I have gobbled up your adventures, laughed so hard imagining you running to the ferry with an armload of kids; it’s wonderful the many ways God just oozes out of you. Purple nailpolish – perfect!
Cherise the sonshine girl, you are one of the happiest blessings in my life. I love you and I miss you like crazy! Can’t wait to drink tea early in the morning and talk and pray for our beloveds. Godspeed! XO K