She stood a ways off, listening and watching, looking as if she wanted to come over, but wasn't sure she could... Every so often, she took a few steps closer and leaned in, hoping to catch a bit of the conversation that was happening with the other school girls. She held her books close to her chest kept eye contact, giving a quick sheepish smile, but never looking away. She was full of curiosity!
My team and I had just run a chapel time at a local school and spoke about how we were from different countries, living here in Australia. We did some performances and then gave a word about identity. Now we were just hanging out and meeting the kids. Heaps of fun!
I looked over at her and gave her an inviting look, but she just smiled back. After my chatter with the other girls was over I walked over to her and started up a conversation. Immediately I had to pay more attention because her accent was very thick.
She was quiet, but eager to be talking. She began to tell me her story.
She was originally from the Congo, and had moved around Africa from country to country because of war and conflict. Her father was a doctor, but has had to leave his country to find a safe place for her and her 6 other siblings.
We spoke of the difficulties of living in a foreign country, something that I can relate to to an extent. I could tell that she was relieved to be speaking to someone who understood what she was talking about.
Immediately my heart went out to her. Such an innocence and trust in her air.
Her name is Fillenza.
She is 18 and in the 9th grade. I asked her what she wanted to do when she was out of school. She hung her head and answered that she wanted to be a journalist. In the last country she lived in, she finally learned the language enough to consider try and study for journalism, but then they moved to Australia and it is too hard to study in English.
She told me the other ideas she had of what to do, but she didn't know what to go for. I asked her, "If money were no obstacle, and there were no hinderances to what you could do, what would you want to do?"
She thought for a bit and said, "I've never thought like that before..."
She listened intently as I spoke about dreams and passions, and how they are given to us by God for a reason.
We chatted for a bit more and the conversation ended with her inviting me to come visit her family and asking if we could continue the conversation. We prayed together and I got to pour out through my words all that I felt in my heart for her. I was taken with a sense of the love of God for her.
She has a purpose and a destiny. She is destined for great things, and fully and outstandingly loved.
I think of the times in the past when I would have been too afraid to single someone out, or ask them deeper questions, or allow my actions to be affected by compassion. How many others are there like Fillenza who simply need to hear life. They need to hear that they are worth someones time.
May we always be a mouthpiece for love, and may the voice of compassion be louder than the deception of fear!
My team and I had just run a chapel time at a local school and spoke about how we were from different countries, living here in Australia. We did some performances and then gave a word about identity. Now we were just hanging out and meeting the kids. Heaps of fun!
I looked over at her and gave her an inviting look, but she just smiled back. After my chatter with the other girls was over I walked over to her and started up a conversation. Immediately I had to pay more attention because her accent was very thick.
She was quiet, but eager to be talking. She began to tell me her story.
She was originally from the Congo, and had moved around Africa from country to country because of war and conflict. Her father was a doctor, but has had to leave his country to find a safe place for her and her 6 other siblings.
We spoke of the difficulties of living in a foreign country, something that I can relate to to an extent. I could tell that she was relieved to be speaking to someone who understood what she was talking about.
Immediately my heart went out to her. Such an innocence and trust in her air.
Her name is Fillenza.
She is 18 and in the 9th grade. I asked her what she wanted to do when she was out of school. She hung her head and answered that she wanted to be a journalist. In the last country she lived in, she finally learned the language enough to consider try and study for journalism, but then they moved to Australia and it is too hard to study in English.
She told me the other ideas she had of what to do, but she didn't know what to go for. I asked her, "If money were no obstacle, and there were no hinderances to what you could do, what would you want to do?"
She thought for a bit and said, "I've never thought like that before..."
She listened intently as I spoke about dreams and passions, and how they are given to us by God for a reason.
We chatted for a bit more and the conversation ended with her inviting me to come visit her family and asking if we could continue the conversation. We prayed together and I got to pour out through my words all that I felt in my heart for her. I was taken with a sense of the love of God for her.
She has a purpose and a destiny. She is destined for great things, and fully and outstandingly loved.
I think of the times in the past when I would have been too afraid to single someone out, or ask them deeper questions, or allow my actions to be affected by compassion. How many others are there like Fillenza who simply need to hear life. They need to hear that they are worth someones time.
May we always be a mouthpiece for love, and may the voice of compassion be louder than the deception of fear!