She stopped in the middle of her story and asked, "Do you still have your parents?" A knot formed in my stomach. The answer was yes, but I found it hard to say to her. She had just told me that her dad was killed when she was a baby and that her mom died a few years later. Her 16 years of life could not be more different than mine were at that age. I have parents who poured into me my whole life and loved me even on those days I'm pretty sure I was hard to love with my teenage attitude. I can't imagine growing up without them. I can't imagine not having them in my life now. My parents live thousands of miles away and I miss them every day. The reality is though that in a few months I'll get on a plane and go home for a few weeks. I'll be greeted with hugs and smiles and spend those weeks doing all kinds of family activities. There will be laughter and late night chats and I Love Yous. I miss them, but I still have precious time with them. All this ran through my mind as I looked at her that day. I love this girl. I want her to have a life that is full of opportunity and joy. She's the one I sponsor at our Tree of Life children's village, and not long after that day she asked if she could call me mom. No words for that moment-- just a heart full of love. But me He caught-- reached all the way from sky to sea; He pulled me out of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos, the void in which I was drowning. They hit me when I was down, but God stuck by me. He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved-- surprised to be loved. Psalm 18:16-19 (MSG)
You can find out more about the Family Legacy child sponsorship programs at www.familylegacy.com
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Why Anything?"Anything is a prayer of surrender that will spark something. A prayer that will move us to stop chasing things that just make us feel happy and start living a life that matters. A life that is surrendered, reckless, and courageous." ~Jennie Allen, Anything. In November of 2013 I moved to Zambia as a full-time missionary with Family Legacy Missions International. Everyone within the organization raises their own support to keep overhead costs at a minimum so donations to the ministry can go directly to the needs and programs for the orphans and vulnerable children we serve. I trust in God's faithfulness to provide monthly and one-time financial supporters for the work I do here for the education of thousands of children from the slum compounds of Lusaka. If you would like to support me, donations are tax deductible and can be made at www.familylegacy.com/alicia
"God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before Him. When I cleaned up my act, He gave me a fresh start. Indeed, I've kept alert to God's ways; I haven't taken God for granted. Every day I review the way He works, I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I'm watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to His eyes." 2 Samuel 22:25
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