Lonely?

I was once told missionary life was a lonely life.  As a new missionary I didn't quite get it.  But now I do.

Lonely:  sad because one has no friends 

Synonyms:  Isolated, all alone, outcast, forsaken, abandoned

Sounds crazy right?  But today as I prayed and again gave God my burdens, I realized it was true.  I was in fact lonely.  My heart was breaking and I couldn't understand why certain things were happening.  Why was support disappearing without a word?  Why were so many people offering help only to forget soon after? Where did some of my best friends go?

And today, with my head in my hands, I felt that loneliness more than ever before.  I told God to take this burden from me once and for all.  I was so tired of feeling abandoned and forgotten.  He would supply.

So as I pushed through the day God spoke to my heart.  I was here to pour out my life and give to the forgotten kids of Honduras.  No matter how I felt or how rough things got, I could never stop.  

When I got to the boys home this afternoon I found out one of my former students was murdered Friday.  3 shots to the head.  He was only 14.  

Later in the evening I stood in front of my class of 15 street kids and it fully hit me.  They were why I was here. It didn't matter who was with me, who forgot me or how poor I was.  The urgency to reach these kids had never been greater.  It meant life or death.  And I would never give up.

I wanted to share a little about some of the kids I work with.  In this tiny, impoverished country they get overlooked by society.  But God sees them.

13 year old Albert was hit by a car when he was 6.  His injuries were so severe he could not continue school.  At 13 he cannot read or write but with one on one tutoring we are helping him learn.  Please pray for his memory retention.  Should Albert learn to read and write he would be able to enter school or an apprenticeship program.

Lester is autistic.  He roams the streets of Honduras at night and once got lost and ended up in Guatemala.  He has never been to school but loves to write numbers and words.  With the right care he may be able to function in society.

Ray (the guy in the cap)  has raised his 5 siblings in poverty.  His parents took off when they were very young and he has been the man of the house ever since.  ( His 3 younger siblings are in the program as well.)  Currently he has not been able to come to class because of a "problem at home".  Whenever he leaves for class people rob his house.  Even with his wife and kids at home!  Please pray for their safety and that he will be able to return to class.  A high school education means better job opportunities and a future for his family.

16 year old Yenifer's parents left her at birth.  For 16 years she's lived with abusive cousins who have told her she was worthless and theirs to use.   She is very smart and very driven to succeed. She has fought through all the hatred and abuse and has found the love of Jesus. Though quiet and shy she is one of my best students.

22 year old Nancy has a 9 yr old daughter and a 4 year old son.  The father took off and left them to fend for themselves.  She is determined (and excited!) to get her high school degree and go on to become a nurse and support her family.  

I see things so much clearer now.  And I can't even remember why feeling lonely was such a big deal ...