Testimonies

Today is Thursday, June 11, and it has been my favorite day of this entire trip so far. We went to the catch-up school for the third time, and began our day with hearing some testimonies. Johnathan Westcott, a member of our team, shared about the struggles of his life and how God is so good despite all the troubles we face. After him, two of the students at the school shared their stories. Their childhood stories were filled with heartache, pain, and suffering, but they were such a blessing for our team to hear. Our worries seem so big, but they are so very small. They told us about their life on the streets, and how valuable education is for them. They were so grateful for the chance to learn and grow as people. There are many lessons to be learned from these children and their faith in God after such terrible circumstances. We also got to hear from Pastor T Ernest. His passion for saving these kids from the streets and giving them the opportunity to learn is incredibly inspiring. He sacrificed so much, including his own house, to invest in these kid’s futures. After a heavy prayer for the kids and the entire school, we got the chance to hang out with the kids. They taught me how to dance and then laughed their faces off watching me try. Every day we spend here, the kids are more welcoming and loving. I met a beautiful girl named Kevin and she braided my hair while continually telling me she loved me. We talked about everything she could ask me in English, and I felt such a connection to her. Right now we are back in the apartments eating lunch, and I can’t wait until we go back this afternoon and I can find her again. The friendships we are making here are so strong even though we have such little time with them. The love they instantly have for us, without knowing anything about us or who we are, is such a strong example of Jesus’s love for us. They do not judge or question anything, they just love on us as much as we try to love on them. My heart is so full.

-Ashley Callahan