EGGStravaganza and The Ache

I have been in Honduras almost 8 weeks. That blows my mind. Just over 4 weeks left. Talk about WHOOSH. I have seen and done so much, andmuch more to come.

It is Semana Santa here (Holy Week) and we are filling it with Easter activities for the homes. Saturday we went to Mission Miqueas to do an egg hunt there - it was so great to see the kids,

and watch their eyes light up when they pulled silly bands, giant rings, stickers, and toys from their eggs.We also did Resurrection Eggs with them - They are a set of special Easter eggs that have little objects in them that act as symbols for the story of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.

Today, we went to Shari and Terry's again to work with the kids there. Their ministry is beautiful - they run

a soup kitchen for the homeless/street people in the center of the city. They also work very closely with Casitas and Eden, two of the public orphanages. On Mondays and Thursdays they have a meal and worship time for the people, and during worship, the kids go to the third floor and have songs, games, and a lesson. Today, Jorge, Mary, and I went to do the lesson/activity with the kids. We did the Resurrection Eggs and two relay races with eggs and spoons (because there was no room for a hunt), and then e

ach kid got to open 5 eggs and keep their little regalitos. It was crazy. Nuts, even. Kids were jumping, yelling, screaming, sneaking, and shoving - but most of all, they were laughing and hearing the story of Jesus. I haven't been so overwhelmed in a very long time - I was hot, I was frustrated, I was hoarse, I was sweaty, I was pulling kids off of each other, off of myself - but none of it mattered really.

Because it was just plain worth the moments that the kids were having a blast, and opening their toys, and winning the race, and leaping to share their answers about Christ. I have only seen these kids twice in my life, but I love them so deeply already that it hurts.

When we got in the car, I cried. I cried for those kids in there. It's hard to see the adults - dirty and rough and thin and strung out. But for me, it's harder to be with the kids. What will become of them? What about their lives? They work on the streets for money for their parents, they raise their siblings, they fight for their safety, what safety?? What about their futures? At the homes, like Mission Miqueas and Hogar Esperanza and Widow's Mite, I cry for the children's pasts and the terrible things that befell them before; but at Shari and Terry's I cry for the children's futures. The kids in the homes have a shot, they have a bright future. They are receiving great educations, and getting to do sports, and eating three square nutritional meals a day. But the street kids? Where will they go?

I need to remember that this world is not our home. What really matters is that they know Jesus, and love Him. But my heart aches for "the least of these." I love them, and my heart is broken.