"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure."

1 John 3:1-3

The Lord reveals Himself to us in different ways and He speaks through His Word. When I was taking vitals at our clinic, this passage in 1 John was brought to my attention. Sometimes I forget that God loves me like a father. I should serve Him because I love Him. Because His mercy is new every morning. When I was in Cambodia, going down the road in Battambang, I realized that the Rapha girls feel a hole in their heart for a Father. Every girl I know needs a man who loves them and tells them he is proud. I have a wonderful Dad who fixes my car and makes me coffee and tells me he loves me. I have always felt protected and provided for. I occasionally recieve a text that reads: "Proud of you sweetheart. Love you. Dad"

However, the girls at Rapha do not have an earthly father who cares. How deep the need is. How great the hole that is left. Whenever we do not feel love from a man, we tend to reach out in unhealthy ways. We find men who are not trustworthy or kind because we do not think of ourselves as worthwhile.

The abuse the girls have suffered is great. However, they have joy that only comes from Jesus. It is deep in their hearts and it spills out to those around them.

When I was doing Triage at Kid's Klub, there was a sweet little boy with a blue shirt and a perfect smile who I met. I took his vitals and asked his name. I told the translator to tell him that he would be okay when he got his teeth pulled because I knew the dentists and they were nice people. He was a trooper and didn't scream when the dentists did the procedure. With a mouth full of gauze but still a smile, he came back over to hang out with me. I had my left arm around him and my right hand making notes. He stood hovering over my shoulder for a long time. He gave me a hug and quietly said, "You. Mommy." I was surprised and asked where his parents were. He insisted on calling me Mommy for the rest of the day.

The Lord spoke this verse to me with this little boy in my arms: how great the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure! Just as my heart ached and loved this boy so much, the Lord feels that way about me.

Except the Lord knew me before I was created. He knit me together in my mother's womb. He saw me grow up in Texas, move to Missouri, and He watched my parents move to Colorado. He was there in high school and the times I didn't feel good enough. He is there when I feel lonely, scared, stupid, or rejected. He knows when I am insecure. When I wonder how the Gospel actually changes the world.

He saw my first trip to Cambodia and then allowed me to go back a second time.