My Driving Force
A couple of weeks ago I, Lori, had an intense experience that I believe will never leave me. It is actually a driving force in my heart right now. When I am too tired and I want to quit….or when I hear those famous words in my head, "you can’t really do anything to make a difference," I remember what happened to me three weeks ago. 

Suddenly…In Africa
I had my eyes closed and suddenly it was as if I was actually in Africa. I began walking down a muddy dirt road deep in a village. To the left of me was a ditch or deep trench. It was dug in a deep and sharp "v". I walked over to look down in the ditch and I could see and smell sewage water that was stagnate. The water looked to be ankle to knee deep.

Buried Treasure
As I looked closer at the water, I began to see hundreds of children that were stuck and buried within this muddy water. The water and mud had formed what was like a mucky paste. The African children were practically glued to this ditch. I couldn’t figure out why they weren’t getting up and out  of this disgusting ditch. However, when I looked closer, I realized why…..they were starving and no longer had the strength to pull themselves up.  They had been dumped in this trench, because they were of no use to anyone any longer.  I immediately jumped down into that ditch. I could feel the mud and muck fill my sandals and ooze between my toes. I began to pick the children up one at a time and pull them from the disgusting sewage. The water and sludge was above my ankles, but all I could do was look at these children. The first one I picked up was so thin. I could see his bones protruding out of his sagging skin because of the starvation he was experiencing. The image below was similar to what I saw in my mind: 

You Were There
As I held this child, I could hear the cries and whimpers of so many others.  I began to cry as I was sitting with my eyes closed. This cry turned into a deep sob.  I have never experienced anything like this before, at least not while I was awake.  I held this child in my arms wondering what I could do to help him.  I then looked up from the deep ditch and saw ordinary people just like you and me standing on the edge at the top of the ditch. They were saying, "throw him up here, I can help."  There were so many lined up all willing to help these children.  I knew then that my role was to stay in the deep, dark and dirty places and pull these children out of the muck.  I knew that others would be there waiting to care for the children, helping them back to life. It was truly a team effort of people each playing a part in saving the life of one child.  I now saw the words "reaching out in love, one child at a time" in action!

From My Mind to My Heart
Even though this was a vision that played out in my mind, I still experience all the emotions as if it actually happened.  I am crying as I write this post. Because of this, I will not stop trying to do my part to help the dying children of the world.  I saw some of you that are reading this post on the side of the ditch willing to help too!  We knew that these children were treasures buried in the mud and muck of this world.

Helping 10,000 Children
We have a very small desire in our heart…we want to help 10,000 children.  When I think of other organizations and all that they are doing, I think that we are so small and of no effect.  But before I let my mind go to far on that thought, I think of David from the Bible.  In 1 Samuel 17, the giant is taunting the Israelites and their God.  David was just a small adolescent and basically insignificant in the eyes of everyone else, but when David heard these lies from the giant, something rose up in him. This giant was telling these people that they were trash and had no purpose in life.  Because of this, David couldn’t just sit back and let this injustice go forth.  He rose to the occasion and was willing to fight and stand up for what was right. 

One Small "Yes" Can Take Down a Giant
We all know that David killed the giant with a simple stone.  He used what he had available to him!  I hope we all want to be like David, not focusing on how small we are and how big the injustices are that stand before us.  One small yes, one small stone, one small person can take down these huge giants that are currently in our land.  Will you join with us as we each pick up our stones and give 10,000 children a chance at life?

Accomplishing more than we thought…because together we are trying,

Lori

www.showmercy.org

"When you wish you could help someone, but don’t, it’s only wishful thinking!  When you dream of doing something noble, but don’t, it is only a noble dream." ~Someone