I came as a host not knowing anyone and coming with my own physical challenge with my foot. In summer 2004, I met the first 33 boys. Many of them were still raw from the streets and had many physical and emotional difficulties. I believe the boys and I shared the challenge together with being in a new place. And I was not sure how we would join together but we did. I left that first summer knowing that I left my heart there. I came back to help lead a spring break team in 2006 where the boys had grown and new ones had come to the Life center. I didn’t realize after being away for a year how much the boys had touched my heart, let alone their hearts.
One of the boys had given me a letter telling me that he had been praying every day for over a year that I would come back. People always hear that someone is out there praying for you but you don’t realize it until a moment like that happens. I returned for a 3rd trip in summer 07' and I could not believe how muchthe boys had grown since the first day I had met them! There were now over 60 boys at the center. The boys that were raw from the streets were now helping out the new children at the life center and being leaders for the younger children by helping them with their daily chores. It was awesome to come the first day of the trip and be greeted by the boys. The boy my family and I sponsor was waiting for me and said "my godmother is here."
Wow! God taught me that life is about relationships and you may not realize that you have touched someone’s heart but just by being there sharing Christ’s love you are. One of the oldest boys opened up to me on this last trip and told me about his life before the LifeCenter. I was taken aside after our talk by one of the hosts and she said that boy hardly ever talks to anyone and could not believe he just shared his life with me. All I could think about was the day in summer of 2004 after trying to reach out to him for 3 weeks that he gave me his first hug! That hug carried over the years to trust. God is amazing how he uses our lives to share about Christ's love. -- Kristen
