And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
There is something inherently beautiful in the characteristics of children. Their purity, joy, laughter, trust, and playfulness reflect heaven’s intentions for all of us. Unfortunately, the hardships and tragedies of life can hinder these inherent qualities.
Last year, some members of our team built a large playground at our main Iris base called Keur Mbegté (House of Joy). It is equipped with a trampoline, soccer field, swings, towers and ropes to climb on, and a slide. Their intention was to create a space for our foster children to play, heal, and grow in confidence. It is a place where our children are free to simply be kids again.
We noticed that the playground soon attracted many children from the community, many coming from poor families or difficult backgrounds. We felt moved to start a Kid’s Club on Saturday afternoons where they can come to play and have fun. It is a huge blessing for them to have this opportunity close by and it is been wonderful to see them so full of joy and excitement.
Every Saturday, dozens of children come early and wait patiently in front of the house for the program to start. We believe it is crucial for a child to have this safe place where they can simply be children, to play without fear or hesitation. After a time of free play, our team gathers the children to do some organized games and share encouraging stories. They continue to invite their friends and we see that the numbers are growing every week.
May we all be more like these children - to feel safe and free in God’s house of joy. May we learn to laugh, trust, and play again without fear or hesitation.