Love never Fails!

Now that we have reached the half way mark in our year here to serve Show Mercy International I have been doing a lot of reflecting. I have so many emotions and thoughts about our time spent here so far. The most predominate thought that keeps coming to my mind is how different the children are out at Hope Children’s Home now compared to what they were like when we first arrived.

I can remember when we first arrived how many little eyes would just blankly look at us from afar with intense wondering hearts; who are these people?, can I trust them?, will they love me?, what are they like? I spent much of my time (and still do) just sitting with various groups of children talking and getting to know their personalities and of course learning numerous tongue twisting Luganda words and making them laugh as I attempted to pronouns them, all the while trying to teach them to love one another. In this process I would wonder if I could possibly be making a difference in their little hearts.

Now after five months, as we drive through the gate at Hope Children’s Home, many children run to the car to greet us. Many smiles are given and I can hardly get out of the car because they want to be the first one to hug me and smell the perfume I am wearing. As I make my way to the home (with one child still hanging on my waist from the hug they are still giving me), I have more children running up to me to give me a long, healthy hug. Now, they are telling me that they love me so, so much several times a day and are saying “we need more Aunt Heather’s there is not enough of you for all of us”.

The most recent “sign” to me that yes we are making a difference and yes they are being loved, was while we were out at Hope Children’s Home the other day. I was walking past our car and I found these words written on the window of our car "We love you Heather". My heart...was so touched. Love never fails!

~Heather

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