Broken promises, broken hearts

I've learned something along this journey in orphan care.

Everyone has family.

even orphans.

Seems like common sense, but I always thought orphans are like Annie- kids who had parents, but has never known them.  But everyone has some family.
(I learned this quite a while ago, but am reminded of it every day).

Traveling to Mexico reminded me that my kids are orphans too.  See, these kids have families.  Each one of them has a mom, or dad, or grandparent, or some relative along the way.  But for various reasons they still end up at a children's home.  Sometimes they are able to eventually go home, sometimes they stay here until they move out on their own.  But each one has heartbreaks along the way.

In the past two days I've been on the forefront of those tears and it tears my heart open for them.

The first is Thelma (name changed).  She arrived a couple of months before I did, but I've known her longer and worked with her longer than anyone else.  Thelma has endured so much and was passed around to a couple of different relatives before ending up at this children's home.  Last year her mom relapsed into alcohol addiction, right as Thelma was planning to go home.  Things got progressively worse until a several weeks ago the mom was put in rehab by the state.  Thelma has not spoken to her since.  Mom has not called.  Stepdad has not called. No one has called to tell Thelma how her mom is.  In a couple of weeks Thelma will turn 18.  She has two more years of school before she graduates.  I pray that she will stick it out here and make it.  Last night she sat in my office crying because she was so worried about her mom and no one would answer her calls.

The second is Sue (name changed).  Sue came a little over two years.  She was expecting to go home this summer, but was told no by her family.  See, dad and mom don't want her and Grandma can't take care of her.  Sue seeks her father's affection every chance she gets.  She usually returns home from her family visits in tears because her dad doesn't want anything to do with her- but she always hopes.  Today she got a call from her Grandma.  Sue's dad was arrested for drug possession... again... two weeks before Sue's birthday... a week before family visit... and he had promised to be there this year... again. Another letdown.  Another broken promise and broken heart.

I don't have words for these two precious girls. All I could do is hug them through the tears and pray for them.  I don't understand how this happens.  How can families not want their children?  It reminds me yet again why I am here.  God gave me a heart for them.  I'm not sure why, but he has.  It is so easy to get lost in the paperwork, licensing, mundane parts of this job that I forget the ministry side of it.  I am His hands and feet to these kids.  Life is not easy here.  There is so much pain and heartache. I wonder sometimes if I am making a difference, but it is like farming- the work is hard, long, painful, but eventually God makes it grow and fruit develops.

Lord, these kids are yours.  You know their hearts tonight.  You know their aches and tears. You. save those tears. Tonight as they sleep, wrap them up in your arms. Surround their beds with angels tonight.  Put their hearts at peace.  Show them a little bit of your plan for them.  Give them hope.  Whisper of your love to them.   Provide for them, and heal their broken hearts.  Pursue them.  Bind Satan from attacking them.  Lord- these are your kids and you promise to protect them.  Lord, they need you.