A spark

They walk through the door, dressed up and beautiful, escorted by the men that volunteered this weekend to make a difference. The girls have been pampered this afternoon. Given beautiful dresses to wear. Hair, makeup and nails done by volunteers that just want to show them love, if even for a moment.
These girls all have different stories. Ones of pain, fear and heartache that separated them from their family. Children left to a system that many times adds to the pain; many tossed from home to home, no routine, no security.
But, here they are, a weekend to just be kids. To feel the love. To be told about the One that will never leave them, never cause them harm...the only One that will never disappoint them; a friend, a comforter, a healer. A Lord and Savior.
Across the room, I see a child that on the first night had such an angry, stoic look on her face. She wouldn't eat the first two days. Now, she looks like a different girl. She allowed the volunteers to spoil her, to do her hair and makeup. She has a beautiful dress on....and she smiles. And my heart smiles.
I see another child that walked in the first day with her shoulders slumped, a hesitant look on her face. Now, she walks in very tall and proud with a big smile on her face. I think to myself what a difference a day makes.
After a dinner served by the men volunteering at the camp (They are kind of like the father figures for the camp), the girls dance. They dance and they laugh. Most of them up on their feet, reveling in the excitement and joy surrounding them. It's refreshing to see.
Then, it's time to wrap the evening up. The camp counselors put the girls into circles according to the groups they are in. Then, the men come out. They have spent the past two days serving at the camp., helping with the activities, facilitating the trust/team building activities, getting to know these girls. These men kneel in front of each girl and just quietly pour words of life into them. They encourage them, they tell them they are beautiful, each girl hearing what the men feel that particular girl needs to hear. Words that maybe no one has ever told them. And I see tears....from the girls and from the men. And my heart breaks. It breaks for their pain, their disappointment, the suffering many of them have had so early in life. But, through that break comes hope and thankfulness that the girls are there to hear words of peace and of comfort. Words of affirmation, hope and joy. Words they may never have heard had they not had the opportunity to come to this camp. On this weekend, they've been given a spark of hope. A spark that may ignite into a mighty fire someday. A fire that could change their world and the world of those around them.


http://hopeunlimitedinc.org/