Day 2 - Shane

We are TIRED after a full day so this post will be shorter than I really want it to be. We went to an amazing project today that is unusually large with over 600 kids. We didn't see all those b/c it wasn't an official project day, but we did get to interact with several of the kids and facilitate workshops for art and songwriting. Well, I didn't do either of those but got to spend time with the project director and staff. The director, Susan, is no joke. It's inspiring how she leads her staff and is passionate about caring for children and their parents. Truly an honor to witness her service and leadership today.
This afternoon we went to the country office which Roger has always said is a really cool part of his trips. I was not disappointed! From the letter writing office to the coordinator for the church partnerships to the finance team that handles all the money from monthly donations... it was all done with excellence and purpose. Always cool to me to hear such a consistency about Compassion staff in strategy and implementation. Full of integrity. Deepens my trust in them.
But the highlight of the day was getting to meet one of Faye's sponsored kids, Shane. It wasn't what I expected at all! In fact, that's really what I wanted to blog about. I guess I had a somewhat romantic view of what it would be like to meet your sponsored child. When I think about meeting Rudy, Mary or Ian I imagine that they'll be shy at first but after awhile will realize that we're not scary, want to know them better and create a fun day together. I was hoping the same for Shane. But she was PAINFULLY shy. We tried everything but after 1 1/2 hours she still was pretty stoic and shut down. I became discouraged. This was not the experience I wanted to tell my mother-in-law about. Shane looked like she was in pain for us to even ask her a question. Totally shut down. And as we asked the project staff about her we got a similar explanation - she's very timid and doesn't open up very much at all. I began to think that maybe we shouldn't go to her house for a home visit and just stay at the project and let her go home. Put her out of her misery.
But the Lord is gracious to meet us where we are and help mature us. So thankful for Him being committed to my growing up. Because as I sat there waiting for it to be time to leave for her house the Lord clearly reminded me that this day wasn't about me. Not about how I felt or how Shane responded back to me. It's not why Faye sponsors her. It's not why we sponsor our Compassion kids. The reason we were there today was to speak the truth of God's love into Shane's life.
Last night we were talking with our good friends, the Newtons, about their adopted child and his continued struggles with adjusting and connecting. Ed said something that really struck me: if their child NEVER adjusts well, never connects, and even decides when he gets older to walk away from them... they still did the right thing in adopting him. They adopted their son out of obedience to the Lord, not because their son was glad about it or would even value it as he grew. They pray he will! They love and nurture him with those desires in mind. But that is not the real reason they adopted him.
And so while I was sitting there today the Lord reminded me of Ed's words and the confidence in Stephanie's face as she resolutely expressed her commitment to love and nurture her chid regardless of his response or reciprocation. That is what we needed to do for Shane today too. So we went to her house and met her mom, grandmother and brother. We took the opportunity to look her right in the face and tell her how much God loves her and how diligently Faye prays for her. We took every opportunity to speak peace and truth into that family today. And you know what? It was fun! Shane opened up a bit when she got home and her mother received us warmly. And I left being much more satisfied with having taken the opportunity to speak the goodness and hope of Christ into Shane's life than creating warm, fuzzy memories of her liking me.
Thank you, God, for being faithful to the work you have started in me. And thank you for Faye Davis and her commitment to faithfully pray and support a child across the world. And thank you for the kingdom impact You will have through Shane's life. Today was a gift.