Let the children come. The past couple of months at Grace Village have been different than anything I’ve seen here yet.

With two bus deliveries of children from an orphanage that was closed down, our resident children doubled in numbers almost overnight. They are not all permanent residents, but they needed a safe place to stay for now, and Healing Haiti was happy to open our gates and fill that gap.

I like to picture Jesus sitting on a flannelgraph rock, children all around him, two or three in his arms and on his lap. But, I’ve been finding myself identifying with the disciples in the story, ready to shoo away the children for my own comfort and agenda. If you also have 65 lightly supervised next-door neighbor kids and teenagers who are all fascinated by you and what treats you might have hidden in your apartment, you understand!

My patience is thin sometimes, but a moment of sweet conversation or an unexpected hug brings me back to Jesus real quick. I am in absolute wonder of the sacred privilege of getting to play a small role in the lives of the children here. I am struck by the love Jesus truly has for each of them, and I have a desire to portray nothing but that love.

Simultaneously, I have been watching one of the young men at Grace Church, who is still a teenager himself, take on a holy burden for the children in our community outside the gates of Grace Village. He wanted to start a club for them, where they could come for some Christian education, in an effort to keep them off the streets and out of gangs. He said there was a club like this for him as a child, and he wants to provide that for others now.

It’s sobering to think that the sweet children who yell my name in greeting as I walk past their homes have real prospects in gang life in not very many years. Some may already be involved. It is a reality of life here, a bit of security and provision and community standing, bought at an incredible expense.

The kids’ club has met twice now, the first week with a group of about 28 children and the second week with a group of over 35. And as those sweet faces fill up the front of the church to sing and play games, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am witnessing something holy!

In lieu of tangible solutions, I can hand out prayers and a little candy. Because I’m not here to be anyone’s savior. But, I do know Him. And I know that he says, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” -Matthew 19:14.