Last week, we had the opportunity to visit an orphanage in Los Planes, called, Hogar Infantil Amor Y Esperanza. (Love and Hope Children’s Home) It is run by a young woman named Rachel Sanson, who has lived in El Salvador since she was 20. She came to El Salvador for the first time, on a short-term mission trip with her church in Ohio, at the age of 14. Every summer after that, she would return again. She fell in love with the hurting children of El Salvador, and determined that, one day, she would return to El Salvador to stay, and that she would open an orphanage. She did just that. I would guess that she is in her late twenties. One by one, she and the staff that God has brought her, have opened their home and hearts to love and heal these helpless ones. I watched her cradle Jeremiah, the little bundle that she in the process of adopting as her own son. He is three years old. As she held him, she quietly spoke to other children, and gave instructions to the ladies that were cooking lunch in the kitchen. God has done amazing things helping this one woman to reach the hurting children whose lives she has touched. He has provided in ways that remind me of George Mueller, and his orphanages in Bristol, England. Her first children were three brothers. They lived on the garbage dump with 7 other siblings, being cared for by their grandma. This family was barely hanging on by a thread. But, then, the government came in and shut down this dump, causing many families living there to be dispersed. They lost the one thing that was keeping them alive…the food people had discarded. This family imploded, and all the children became seriously malnourished. The worst Rachel had ever seen. At this point, the grandmother asked her if she could take the three boys and care for them. She had been working on a project at the dump, and knew this family well. She knew it was God’s appointment, and said, “YES!” She opened the doors of Hogar Infantil Amor Y Esperanza with these three brothers. That was about 8 years ago. Since then, those three boys have been adopted into a family in the United States. Many other children have come and gone, having their lives permanently touched and changed by the love and hope that was shown to them at this home. I was struck by the fact that this ONE young woman has impacted the lives of so many people; simply because of the love of Jesus. He put His love for these children in her heart. Then, she acted on it…she did something about it. She took a giant leap of faith, and moved from her comfortable life in the U.S., to El Salvador…a third world country. Remember, she first came as a young, impressionable youth of fourteen years. Some people ask, “What impact does short-term missions really have? It’s only a week. What can be accomplished in just a week? What lasting impact can you really have?” Well, Rachel’s story is just the answer to this type of question. Rachel’s heart was stirred for others. Her life was never the same. Because of her obedience, when she stands in glory before Jesus…she will stand with those whose lives she has changed for eternity. So, what impact can short-term missions have, really? Decide for yourself. Next time someone tells you they are raising funds for a short-term mission trip, think about Rachel. Give and pray. You never, never, never know what God is going to do in the heart of the one who goes!!!! If you want to be very blessed, check out Love and Hope’s blog, full of great stories and pictures…www.blog.loveandhopechildrenshome.com
