1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
These past three weeks have taught me that that passage of Scripture is my one of my favorite Bible verses. In fact, I have decided to learn it in Tamil; which I'm hoping to begin this weekend. I am thinking about this piece of Scripture tonight in 3 different ways...
1. There are three brothers that live at the hostel. Their names are K. Lokesh Kumar, K. Udaya Kumar and K. Sathish Kumar. They are 9, 12 and 13 years old, respectively. These boys have no parents. Their father died of HIV/AIDS. Their mother tragically committed suicide after being misinformed by people in her village; she also had HIV/AIDS. When I was told of this story, it was very difficult for me to try and wrap my head around this story...well, not story because this is someone's actual life. It is real...these 3 boys are living it. They are living without a mother and father. All three of them have the chance of having HIV/AIDS, which I am praying every day that God might save them from this disease. I think the part that bothers me most is how a mother could take her own life when she has three incredible young boys with their entire lives ahead of them. These boys are extremely special. All three of their smiles could light up a night sky. They are some of the most hard-working and intelligent young men that I know. Udaya Kumar is a fantastic football player. Sathish Kumar is always helping around the hostel, doing all kinds of work. Lokesh Kumar has incredible English skills and is so so sweet. I think of them as I look at 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 tonight because I want to make sure they get to know this kind of love. The kind of love that comes from God. I want them to know that God loves each one of them and will never leave their side. He is their true Father in Heaven and loves them more than words can say. It is my hope that I can show that to them during the time that I am here. They might not see this love from parents, but I sure am going to try as hard as possible to give them that love from me.
2. The children here have shown me this kind of love that is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. The children of Carmel portray that love to me every second that I am with them. Last night, I had the first homesick moment I've had yet on this trip, exactly three weeks in. I had not been missing home at all for three whole weeks. Why? Because these children have been giving me an extraordinary amount of love that I have not even needed to think about home for the past three weeks. While I may not be able to hug my Mama or talk sports with my Padre or spend "sistertime" with my sister, these children are here. They say "Good morning, Aunty" and it warms my heart. They smile at me and my heart bursts with joy. They sit next to me and I feel like the luckiest person on Earth. I do miss home. I miss my family so much. I miss my friends. I will be missing all kinds of events and holidays over the next six months; however, if I were home, I would be missing this incredible life-changing experience at Carmel. I would not be able to bless the children as they have so abundantly blessed me in the past. I am here because of this love. I am here to spread it to as many people as I possibly can reach. I am here to share it so that more people can receive it. I am here because God loves me, God loves his children and I love the children of Carmel.
3. Finally, Backie and Freena live this love. They reach out to a poverty-stricken community every day. They help those who are most in need by giving education and a home to their children. They find the people that need God's love the most and share it with them. They have shown me such an outpouring of love ever since I arrived; I almost feel unworthy of it.
So you see, I see this love everyday. I feel so lucky. Not everyone gets to see such a special love every day. In fact, some people never see this love in all of their life. It is those people who I pray for tonight. I pray for those that do not know the love that is spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Open your Bible. Turn to it....read it. Pray about it. And maybe one day you will accept that love that comes from Christ Jesus...because His love is waiting for us. All we have to do is accept it.
These past three weeks have taught me that that passage of Scripture is my one of my favorite Bible verses. In fact, I have decided to learn it in Tamil; which I'm hoping to begin this weekend. I am thinking about this piece of Scripture tonight in 3 different ways...
1. There are three brothers that live at the hostel. Their names are K. Lokesh Kumar, K. Udaya Kumar and K. Sathish Kumar. They are 9, 12 and 13 years old, respectively. These boys have no parents. Their father died of HIV/AIDS. Their mother tragically committed suicide after being misinformed by people in her village; she also had HIV/AIDS. When I was told of this story, it was very difficult for me to try and wrap my head around this story...well, not story because this is someone's actual life. It is real...these 3 boys are living it. They are living without a mother and father. All three of them have the chance of having HIV/AIDS, which I am praying every day that God might save them from this disease. I think the part that bothers me most is how a mother could take her own life when she has three incredible young boys with their entire lives ahead of them. These boys are extremely special. All three of their smiles could light up a night sky. They are some of the most hard-working and intelligent young men that I know. Udaya Kumar is a fantastic football player. Sathish Kumar is always helping around the hostel, doing all kinds of work. Lokesh Kumar has incredible English skills and is so so sweet. I think of them as I look at 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 tonight because I want to make sure they get to know this kind of love. The kind of love that comes from God. I want them to know that God loves each one of them and will never leave their side. He is their true Father in Heaven and loves them more than words can say. It is my hope that I can show that to them during the time that I am here. They might not see this love from parents, but I sure am going to try as hard as possible to give them that love from me.
2. The children here have shown me this kind of love that is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. The children of Carmel portray that love to me every second that I am with them. Last night, I had the first homesick moment I've had yet on this trip, exactly three weeks in. I had not been missing home at all for three whole weeks. Why? Because these children have been giving me an extraordinary amount of love that I have not even needed to think about home for the past three weeks. While I may not be able to hug my Mama or talk sports with my Padre or spend "sistertime" with my sister, these children are here. They say "Good morning, Aunty" and it warms my heart. They smile at me and my heart bursts with joy. They sit next to me and I feel like the luckiest person on Earth. I do miss home. I miss my family so much. I miss my friends. I will be missing all kinds of events and holidays over the next six months; however, if I were home, I would be missing this incredible life-changing experience at Carmel. I would not be able to bless the children as they have so abundantly blessed me in the past. I am here because of this love. I am here to spread it to as many people as I possibly can reach. I am here to share it so that more people can receive it. I am here because God loves me, God loves his children and I love the children of Carmel.
3. Finally, Backie and Freena live this love. They reach out to a poverty-stricken community every day. They help those who are most in need by giving education and a home to their children. They find the people that need God's love the most and share it with them. They have shown me such an outpouring of love ever since I arrived; I almost feel unworthy of it.
So you see, I see this love everyday. I feel so lucky. Not everyone gets to see such a special love every day. In fact, some people never see this love in all of their life. It is those people who I pray for tonight. I pray for those that do not know the love that is spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Open your Bible. Turn to it....read it. Pray about it. And maybe one day you will accept that love that comes from Christ Jesus...because His love is waiting for us. All we have to do is accept it.
Oh Tricia, Tricia, Tricia...... I am typing this through my tears as I read the story of these three beautiful boys. The anguish of reading that not only did their poor mother take her own life in spite of having these three splendid children, but if I understand your blog correctly, INCORRECTLY believing that she was infected with HIV. In our limited mortal minds, what could possibly be a greater tragedy? (And indeed it is a profound tragedy.) Yet, your eloquent story demonstrates with utter clarity how the God we serve turns such an unimaginable story of human failure into the profound blessing with which He is annointing these three of His beloved children. One last thought, dear Sister. Never, never mention your "not deserving" the deep love you are receiving in Almighty Jesus' Garden - not even with the "almost" qualifier. It is quite all right to say that you've done nothing to earn this heavenly gift, because that is the truth. But please never suggest that you don't deserve it - because you are His child, you have trusted and heeded His call, and you will surely be among the sheep that He calls to eternal bliss in His kingdom. See Matthew 25 for details! Reading today's blog convinces me beyond any shadow of doubt that God willing, I too will one day devote six months of my life to God's holy work in Semmandakuppam. Thanks for that nudge, Tricia. I love you. Mike Uncle
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