Walking through Walmart, a child, about 7 years old, ran up and gave me the biggest hug ever!! Now this happens in Church on a somewhat regular basis—with a couple kids in particular—and I love it!! The difference here is Walmart though; I had no clue who this child was!! It filled my heart with joy to have his big blue eyes looking up at me! We talked and played games for a bit until his parent came and told him it was time to go.

Sounds a bit strange doesn’t it? Why is it acceptable for this to happen in another country on a mission trip, but not in Walmart?

Just to be clear, the story about me and the child in Walmart is NOT a true story. I simply wanted to point out the absurdity of this situation here in America. There is a huge difference between what we experience in our world compared to the mission field. It begs the question, why the difference?

No doubt many of these children in other parts of the world experience extreme neglect. Such extreme neglect causes huge delays in development. It should not surprise us to see a five-year-old child behaving like a two year old because developmentally, they are two years old.

Here’s what I had to wrestle with; does that make it acceptable behavior to run up to complete and total strangers and jump into their arms? The neglect, and often abuse, some of these kids experienced is beyond acceptable and gut-wrenchingly awful! But, should I encourage and promote this behavior?

I struggle with how to do the most good when I am only there for a week. The kind of love some of these kids need takes much more than a week. To repair years of neglect and abuse, they need love, safety, and stability from someone on a much more consistent and long term bases. I want to do the most good I can when I’m there. I’ll build a house, repair a soccer net, fix the toilet, paint, play soccer and frisbee, or pretty much anything. What these kids desperately need is consistent love from someone who is there on a regular basis.

I am so incredibly thankful for those who choose to do this: who choose to love these kids and pour into their lives on a daily basis. It’s not easy, but most certainly needed. I’ve had the privilege of meeting many who go to other states or countries, who decided to leave jobs to pour into the lives of kids like these.

I love these children deeply and it’s because of that love I want more for them! I want them to stay safe and not every adult is safe. I want them to grow and overcome years of neglect. I want to come along side those caregivers to support and encourage them and not make it harder for them to minister to these kids.

As I prepare to lead a mission trip in the summer, these are the things running through my head. These are the things I want to challenge those who go to think through before going. You may not be planning to go, but please do not over look the need here too. It is not only children overseas who have experienced extreme neglect and abuse. There are thousands of kids in America in the foster care system who have been neglected and abused too.

These are kids you live next door to, your kids go to school with, and are already in your life on a daily basis. How are you being the hands and feet of Christ? How are you investing in the lives of others to bring healing and hope?