It has been a while since I have written a post about what has been on my heart. Life has swept me away the past couple months and has kept me way too busy for my own liking to where I can't even keep my thoughts straight. Not being in Guatemala for a whole year has also distanced myself from the realities and struggle the people of Guatemala face on a daily basis, as much as I hate to admit that. I have sadly fallen back into the 'amazing race' way of life.
I have been praying for words to write in a post, and have not had much come to me, until today. Today I saw heart wrenching news about something absolutely.... just absolutely sad. I can't even think of any other word to describe it. Today at a government run orphanage in Guatemala, riots and a fire broke out, which took the lives of 31 teen girls (ages 14-17), 25 are severely burned, and over 50 are missing thus far. These riots were a result of the children rising up against the guards because of unjust punishment, sexual abuse, and horrific treatment. This orphanage has space for about 400 children, but over 800 are living there. My heart truly hurts that these children saw and had no other option of hope than to try and stick up for what they deserve, and in turn, sadly took the lives of those fighting for the same thing. Children who had no voice, children who had no family, no one to pray for them, are now gone trying to get that.
It hurts that I prayed hard for words to write, and this terrible situation is what is sparking my heart to speak. This tragedy in no way has God's name on it, but it's real. Real life happening, and not much being said about it, not many even know. To some in the world, watching a girl cry because she doesn't get a rose is real. I disagree. Real is living without knowing love, waking up to no food, and going to bed with an empty stomach, not going one day of your life without tears in your eyes, being afraid to move or speak because you may be punished, sleeping on cold hard floors soiled with feces, never getting the chance to see what this life has to offer, I call that real.
We are all one race, the human race, and we need to start acting like it. Lets be a parent to those without parents, defenders to those who have no voice. Help the refugees. Help your local food bank. Help the man sleeping in the tent in your city park, even just a smile. Donate blood, you're donating a life. Just help.
To all those reading this, who will be thinking or potentially send me emails how we need to help our own country first; you're entitled to that opinion, just as I am to mine. But here is my response to you...
Why not help anyone and all that you can? No matter what country they call home, everyone and anyone deserves help just as much as the rest. That could be you, but it's not. You could have been born in the slums of Africa. But you were born privileged by being born in a country that has structure. Even if you are born to an under privileged family, this country and many others have systems in place to help you get on your feet, and give you many chances if at first you don't succeed. That's something developing countries don't have.
Point is, let's all help our race rise again by helping others and be the race we were designed to be.
This life is not our own, and by each crime and every kindness we birth our future, so let's make sure our actions are reflections of what we want to see for our future.
xo.
