I love people, and I love their stories, and I feel beyond blessed every time that someone chooses to share their story with me. By doing so, they're inviting me into their life and into their heart, and I find that to be deeply beautiful. One of my favorite things that I get to do with Back2Back is help the kids we work with to write down their life stories. I love watching their eyes sparkle as they tell me about the happiest thing they remember doing or what they want to be when they grow up. I giggle every time someone tells me they love Justin Bieber, and I'm always struck by how deeply, purely, and simply children understand the world we live in. Kids are truly remarkable.
Most of the time, I try to write their life stories with just them so they don't feel pressured by their siblings or parents and so they can have the space to think. But when I went to little Luis's house to hear his story, his mom wanted to be a part of it, too. I said yes, although somewhat begrudgingly, knowing that Luis wouldn't tell me certain things because his mom was there. But God knew what he had planned for that day. Luis was nervous at first, but after a few questions I saw his face visibly change. He was glowing--soaking up every moment of talking about his life with his mom. I couldn't help but smile as I watched them talk about what Luis was good at, fun things their family has done together, and their story of moving to Cancun. It was obvious that Luis was loving the one-on-one attention he was getting from his mom, and I couldn't help but wonder if this was the first time they'd talked so much about just him.
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| Luis's Family at the Bonfil Community Christmas Party |
In that moment, I was reminded of why I am working with Back2Back Ministries in Mexico. God brought me here to be a part of the work of his heart and to reach his children: to restore families, to redeem broken hearts, and to reach those who are earnestly seeking him. And I think that starts with one person feeling loved and special. Eventually those moments of feeling loved and special add up, and kids begin to understand that what God says is real, and healing takes place, and God is glorified. So as I help kids to write their stories and teach classes and plan events it's beautiful to know that I'm not the one making the change, God is. It's equally as lovely that God has decided to include me in that work so that I get to see with my own eyes so many of those little moments that add up to big change. We serve a very good God.
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