Today was wonderful! Marilyn and I had an opportunity to go with Scott to Pulse, for the crisis pregnancy center started by the ministry we're working with (My Brother's Keeper/Mihaela and Gobi Visan.) Scott was doing some training for Pulse staff, teaching them how to present abstinence in schools. Mihaela and Gobi started the first abstinence program in Oradea 2 years ago in the face of much resistance and people promised them that they were foolish and that the program would never make an impact. Now, however, 2 years later, they have presented the message of abstinence in 22 public schools last year alone and are making headway in many other fronts. It was really awesome to sit in on the training session and hear how to present abstinence before marriage to young people who need to hear this message desperately. It was quite a striking parallel listening to Scott teach about abstinence which has a direct impact on some of the abandoned children we're working with at the hospital. I really enjoyed my time there.
After lunch with Mihaela and Gobi, our team came back and I and Marilyn headed to the hospital for our P.M. shift. It never ceases to amaze me how my love for the kids grows with each and every day. Yet again, little Roxanna (the written-off baby) shocked me as she made even more progress in accepting/showing affection. Baby Viola, a 9-month old little girl, made gigantic strides in finally sitting up without support and even beginning to pull herself up a little. A few days ago, she showed no signs of sitting up, laying all day on her back but over the last few days, that has all changed. Its amazing what love can do!
The team is really starting to show signs of exhaustion and the thing that keeps us going is our heart ties to the kids. Every day seems to wear longer but the thought of seeing "our kids" that day is more than enough to keep our tired feet from dragging and helps us hold our heads high. As we exit the hospital at night however, our hearts have been poured out, our spirits have imparted life-giving love, and all that's left is for our bodies to show the strain of motion made possible only by will-power. We depend each morning on God's grace and mercy and your prayers but being poured out, no matter how tiring, makes me feel so healthy. We, as Christians, were never meant to become stagnant, hearing-not-doing bodies in a pew; I feel alive putting hands to my faith. To me, this exhaustion means more than "work completed" but signifies an emptying of all that God has poured into me and making me an empty vessel for God to fill again. This really is what life was all about - God pours into us who pour into others. Who knew that giving would leave me with so much?
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