A Child's Heart

Don't you just LOVE kids!
I mean seriously...
Sometimes they just PUT US IN OUR PLACE!

We learned to Stand Strong no matter what the world throws at you -
a GREAT lesson for kids and adults!!

This week was our Vacation Bible School week.  As you may (or may not) know, the ladies of 29:11 Inc. are Children's Ministry junkies so the weeks surrounding VBS are extremely busy for us.  With that being said, Praise the Lord things went well.





We take up coin offerings each day of VBS and all of the money goes to feeding children in orphanages we currently have connections with in Africa & Haiti.

It seems like each year we have children who are willing to sacrifice - I mean truly make a sacrifice - for kids who they have never met.  We have kids who give each year but there is always that one kid whose story sticks with you.



This year, that special child was Ava (red shirt, sparkly purse)
Isn't she cute?!?


Ava wanted to make a difference to children in other countries.  In her words she wanted to make "just one kid in Africa or Haiti smile."

She emptied out her entire bank and put it all in her purse to give in our offering. Ava may not have given the most money this week, but she definitely sacrificed.

She even asked to "give a speech" to the kids and parents at VBS.

Ava said that she wished she had a big big room, filled with all the money in the world.  She said if she had all that money she would give it away to make just ONE kid in Africa or Haiti or other countries like that smile.

Ava gets it.
She really gets it.

Sometimes I wonder even as adults, even as people who have started a non-profit to help orphans and homeless children around the world, even as people who work and volunteer in ministries, even as followers of Christ - do we get it?

Are we willing to give all that we have for just one smile?

Lord, give us a heart that is truly willing to  give up everything we have to follow you.  Don't let us be like the rich man in Matthew 19, who couldn't part with his possessions.  Use all that we have to further Your kingdom.

Jeremiah 29:11
 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."