So long England...

I am so sad to have left England this morning. I have had a really long day at the airport with a 10 hour layover in Chicago and have looked through every picture and video from the trip. Now I sit here reflecting on everything I've learned, been challenged by, and experienced in the last 5 weeks. However, my mind still races on about Helena's (among many) endearing character and alive spirit.

Wednesday evening we returned to the rough town that we hosted the Western Themed Camp at. Helena had told me that she would be unable to make it this week but I was still hopeful for the other kids. This silly, smart, and crazy little girl had not left my mind since last week when she sat crying in my arms. When we pulled up, she was the first one I saw. She was waiting outside with several other kids that had continued to come back and back again to see the American people. She was so overcome with joy and all I could do was praise Jesus that she had not lost hope or forgotten. We hugged (they call it cuddling) for several minutes and then ran off with some other kids to play along like we had just one week before. After a little bit she ran off home to grab something. Next thing I know, she has her 6 year brother, ALWAYS-smiling Harvey, bring over a homemade card and flowers in a Hello Kitty cup. I played the character of Daisy May in the skits last week and now all of the kids in the camp believe it's my real name, I have no reason not to be Daisy May. My card reads "Dear Daisy May, I love you I love you I love you, No. 1 Girl, No. 1 Girl, No. 1 Girl! Love, Helena." I couldn't have worded it better myself.

We had a sad goodbye but not tearful or disheartening. Next week she will receive a Bible (from the Queen's Jubilee) with a note inside and underlined verses. I hope that it's enough to push her on in getting to know Jesus, finding His love, and letting her joy stem from Him. Thanks to Kookie (forever and always my England Mom), I read Mimosa by Amy Carmichael. This was exactly what I needed to read. How the Lord's power is beyond our expectations and how He truly does not need us to change children's hearts, however, he is still willing to! Sovereignty.

“Is not the courage of the love of God amazing? Could human love have asked it of a soul? Fortitude based on knowledge so slender; deathless, dauntless faith — who could have dared to ask it but the Lord God Himself? And what could have held her but Love Omnipotent?“ -Amy Carmichael