i will remember you

Many smiles, laughs and the occasional tears of small fights gone bad, are shared while spending Thursday afternoons at the Tamina Community Center. Throughout the past 5 or so years of my getting to know the children, I have come to know them each pretty well-I know their insecurities, struggles and needs..I’ve come to essentially know their overall “spirit.”

Today was a day at Tamina that I will never forget.

Asiah is one of the little girls who I’ve gotten to know especially well this year. She is around 8 years old and sometimes longs to have all of my attention, constantly telling me that “I’m her friend only..no one else’s”, and “play with me-not her.” Sometimes, I get frusterated and find a way out of the situation, trying my best to get her involved with playing with the other children and me as well.

Children will be children, and the ones at Tamina have a certain aggression to them that seems to be more over-developed than most children their ages. Flaws are pointed out more bluntly, and the exchange of vulgar names frequently resounds in the air. Asiah happens to be one of the little girls that is picked on the most, and so my heart has always gone out to her. I know what it is like to be called names, and the pain that sticks with you each time insults are thrown your way.

Today, some of the children were being more aggressive and persistent than usual and I was having a hard time dealing with certain ones. Asiah played the role of my shadow the entire time and humbly held my hand as I tried to explain to children why kicking me, or any of the other adults, was not okay.

Towards the end of the day I found myself standing alone when all of a sudden, I felt little arms embrace me around my waist and a little head with bright, bold eyes staring back up at me when I looked down. Asiah’s big grin widened as I recognized her presence. She blurted out, “I will remember you.” The words caught me off guard, as I had not said anything about leaving for college next Fall-let alone even leaving for the day. I asked her what she said, to clarify my interpretation. She exclaimed once more, “I will remember you!” Then skipped off towards the basketball goals.

Tears filled my eyes as I looked up to Haley and told her of what had just occurred.

“I will remember you.”

Driving to work after Tamina I thought of what the innocent little girl had said to me. I began to realize that her statement is exactly what we, as believers, should do in every instance of our lives; remember You.

A little eight year old from Tamina Community Center might never know the impact she had on me today, but I know I will never forget hers.

So Lord, “I will remember You”..

I will remember You in the tears.

I will remember You in the laughter.

I will remember You in the struggles.

I will remember You in the solitude.

I will remember You in the morning, the afternoon, and the night.

I

will

remember

You.

rich young ruler.

Derek Webb’s music reminds me of my first trip to Guatemala. Listening to the songs stir up all the memories and the mystery of the place that I first felt when arriving. I remember sitting on the old stage in area 51 speaking about my time spent there and how it impacted me. One of Derek Webb’s songs came to mind, “Rich Young Ruler”, and I spoke on the relevancy of it in our community. The opening lyrics say this:

“Poverty is so hard to see
when it’s only on your tv and twenty miles across town
where we’re all living so good
that we moved out of Jesus’ neighborhood
where he’s hungry and not feeling so good
from going through our trash
he says, more than just your cash and coin
i want your time, i want your voice
i want the things you just can’t give me”

I’ve been listening to that album a lot recently. Maybe it’s because I miss the simplicity of Guatemala, or the genuineness of time spent at The Beacon,( a homeless aid center), downtown.  This past weekend I went down to Rice Village with my best friend Jenna. On the way home we were at the light at the intersection of the feeder and 242 and I noticed a homeless man cautiously propping a cardboard sign up in his arms that read, ” Need money, I’m hungry. God Bless.” I started scrummaging around in my purse, wishing I carried cash, when I realized I had a few extra dollars left over from earlier that day. I quickly pulled my wallet out and asked Jen to roll down the window to yell “Sir” and get his attention. As her voice echoed above the rumbling of engines, it finally reached his ears and revealed a hopeful look upon his face that moments before had been hidden. He made his way over to her car and with a grateful look on his face accepted the few dollars while thanking us repeatedly. “God bless yall”, he offered us his farewell and made his way down the road with a smile that’s only visible to those who allow themselves to truly seek deeper into individual’s hearts. As we drove off, all the stereotypical advice resounded in my mind, “don’t give homeless money, all they want is booze, they’re tricking you..”. I prayed he would choose not to use it on those things but quickly realized that whatever it was he chose to use my money on, I did not care. The exchanging of love bears a much greater weight than that of the materialistic items of this world. Whether that man bought himself a cold beer, or a warm blanket to sleep on that night-my hope is that he was able to see Jesus in me, the same way I saw our Savior in him.

Hope in the Midst

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Originally uploaded by sarahlace08

I took this picture when I was in Guatemala last summer; it will never cease to touch me.