pen wars

i have to be quick...i just got back from a mission trip and i am way behind on school stuff now.

a moment from the trip:

he was 12 and lucky not to be picking fruit in the fields - next year for sure. he said he had no name then he said his name was "betsy" because he thought my name tag said that instead of becky. a girl told me his name was Manuel - i believe that's short for a name that means "God with us." the boy caused so much trouble - beating up the little kids, poking everyone so hard you could swear his figer was a knife, stabbing some with sticks etc. as he was running around saying, "i don't want to listen to the story, i'm going to kick everyone," he began to yell repetitively, "i have adhd, i have adhd." No shit. he was the epitome of a trouble maker. all the leaders wished he'd go away. i don't know why, but i loved him.

God loves us without standing and shaking a finger - "you should be better." that's what i wanted to do with this kid. when he picked up two washable felt pens and played with them like they were switch blades, i decided to take his love language of violence and join him. we had a pen fight to end all pen fights - two showers later and i still have marker on my arms.

i hope that, for at least the hour i was there, he knew someone loves and even likes him just as he is - without any adendums.

then i left the next morning...the glory of the short term mission trip is a sarcastic discussion for later.