Building Dreams...

Recently I've been working on gathering some general information about our children at Rancho Ebenezer for one of our ministry partners. The two questions asked of each child were, "What is your favorite food?" and, "What is your dream for the future?" 

I always love hearing our children's responses to questions like these, their child-like perspective on future goals they may have. I received everything from, "My favorite food is pizza and I want to be a soccer player" to "My favorite food is Chinese rice and I want to own my own company".  Other responses included wanting to be a doctor, a firefighter, a U.S. naval officer, a police officer, a teacher, a mechanic, learning how to drive a motorcycle, and so on. 

The one that struck me the most, however, was this... "My favorite food is chicken tacos made by my Mentor Dad and my dream for the future is to build a big house for people who cannot afford it." This came from an eleven-year-old. 

In this country of Honduras where the realities of violence and brokenness do exist, where hope may seem unattainable and there are conditions of extreme desperation, I am humbled by the opportunity to work with children coming out of some of the worst of circumstances to find that hope indeed is very attainable and circumstances and conditions are not immutable.

The children growing up at Rancho Ebenezer are being raised and cared for in family style homes, receiving the same love that you would give to your own children. How beautiful it is for our children to hope, to dream, to have a desire within their hearts to help someone else in need going beyond fears of whether they will have something to eat today or where they are going to sleep tonight.  Quite frankly, it is humbling. 

How often are we wrapped up in our own minds, our own agendas? Do you ever wonder where that child-like faith goes as we "grow up"? That innocent desire to help someone else in need and placing their needs before your own?

Maybe this is why Jesus gently reminds us, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. " -Mark 10:14-15 

If only we could build "big houses" for people that cannot afford homes... or can we? We may not be able to change the world in our lifetime, but can we change one life, who then in turn could change another?

How I desperately long to hold on to the desire to help the needs of the less fortunate, to always see the potential for good and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, and to not let go of hope. Maybe then I can take part in impacting at least one future for good. 

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