Unrelenting Faith

Practically every year Brad and I reminisce about the first day we dropped JD off at preschool. We were living in Titanyen, Haiti, and drove him to Quisqueya Christian School in Port-au-Prince which was a 45-minute commute on a good day. JD talked most of the way to his new school telling us how excited he was to meet new friends and start the big boy life. I, on the other hand, was a very quiet, nervous wreck and nothing could have prepared me for what was about to happen. Staring at my little man, I was the very last mom to leave the room, unable to put one foot in front of the other and muster the courage to trust this new stranger, his fully capable teacher, to take care of him for the day! I felt like I had weights on my legs and could not move. Brad vividly recalls almost having to carry me across the soccer field to our car because I was crying and did not want to leave him. Over the years I can’t say that my behavior improved at all with my other three kids, or that I will be any better in just a few days as I drop Jaima, our youngest, off at college for the first time. From that first day of dropping JD off until now, I have always dreaded the first day back to school, but I also know it is the very best thing for them.

Over the years I have learned many things from the Haitian moms, but I have often thought that maybe I should have been more attentive to how they handled the first day of school for their kiddos. If I would have looked through their lens maybe it would not have been so hard for me. Most moms I’ve seen do not seem worried on the day they drop their children off, and there are no moms standing at the door wondering if their kids will be ok all day. Their concerns are much deeper than that!

Life is hard, and education is a long and expensive commitment. Oftentimes if a mom has multiple kids she has to pick which ones she can afford to send to school and hope she chooses the smartest and most dedicated one. She walks with pride as she brings her little 3-year-old to school for the first time, and she knows that every subsequent year will require many personal sacrifices in order to purchase school supplies, buy new uniforms, and pay for tuition. Getting to go back to school year after year is a gift that not every mom believes will be possible for all of her children, but she is hopeful! She hopes, prays, and believes that this will change everything for her family because she understands that getting to go to school not only means a chance to learn and grow but also that education is the key to a better future. The first day of school is a celebration that these kids have a real chance to change the trajectory of their future for generations. These moms have unrelenting faith in what they hope for yet do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

As we enter this school year will you please pray for every mom who is walking in faith and who is hopeful for her child? Whether they are entering preschool or their final year of high school, please pray that this will be the best year yet for their family. Pray that the Lord will protect and provide for them and that generational and eternal change will be a reality.

If you sponsor a child through Mission of Hope I want to thank you for making a difference in the lives of your student(s) and especially for being a part of bringing hope to the mom. If you are interested in sponsoring we’d love for you to partner with us.