God can do a lot of beautiful things over eight weeks. Of the many things God has taught me in my time here at Bethesda, one that is particularly pertinent is how He has grown my understanding of and compassion for orphans. While I’ve always known this to be a good thing, I now have a much more real sense of the need and God’s command for us to care for the orphan. I have had opportunities here to see many different aspects of orphan care ministry and, in a small way, become a part of the ministry. God really opened my eyes when I recognized that these children have no one to speak for them and this is why God calls us all to do something. “Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:9

One of my favorite experiences of my time here has been tutoring three Grade R (Kindergarten) girls for an hour a day. I am so thankful for the opportunity this has given for me to invest more deeply in these relationships as I’ve worked one on one with them throughout my eight weeks here. It’s been encouraging to see how much they have learned, but also how much I have learned from working with them.

As I head home, I want to do something. For me, this means I must first become informed. If I am to do something at home, I must first learn where the needs are. This means looking in my church and my community for ways to serve orphaned and vulnerable children or support those caring for them. Looking further ahead, I also hope to teach in a school with serious needs so that I can invest in those children. Please pray for me as I continue to find my ‘something’ in caring for orphans!