House of Hope....where can one begin? Extreme poverty, heart-ache....all so raw still in my mind. How can you hear the stories of little ones beging sold into prostitution? How can women overcome the scars in their lives because of a life lived in prostitution?
Little boy with the big brown eyes clinging to his momma.....the momma has a very sad face. She doesn't want any help. Does she resent her son? Does she love him? She is close at hand as he toddles on the dirt floor then onto the cement porch nearer to the steep steps. We make eye contact, but there is no smile and her eyes do not light up as mine do at seeing her beautiful baby boy. Does she have any hope for tomorrow? How long will she stay? What will happen to her son? These are questions that have to be answered; some of the scariest and hardest questions I can fathom: How do I support myself and my son where there are thousands of women just like me throughout Nicaragua with no place to go and no way to earn a living?
There are so many, but I am praying for you, Momma with the very sad face! I am praying for you little boy as you toddle around in all your innocence....unaware of your momma's anxiety.
I'm reminded of the encounter that Jesus had with the women at the well...a woman very much like the women we met at House of Hope. That woman left Jesus joyfully that day after speaking with Jesus. Oh, that the women of Nicaragua would know that same encounter.....know that they are not condemned....know that they can trust Jesus to meet their every need....even the deepest needs!
