Today has been another full day, and we are not even half way through it. We are learning to expect that, and especially to expect the unexpected. Among the many messages we have received so far today, was a request to do some loads of bedding and towel laundry for the refugee house in Horsky Park, that doesn’t have a washing machine yet. I, Joy, was sent a picture of the bags so I knew which ones to take. It’s a small thing, in the grand scheme of things, to do some loads of laundry for one house of refugees. But this very big crisis has been met with many small acts of kindness, one person at a time, a few people at a time, over and over again, till all these acts of compassion grow into bigger and bigger effects.
I am still working on the laundry, one load at a time, but I have another job to do today that feels like a really big one. When I arrived at the house, I walked in and immediately saw the bags of laundry by the doorstep. However, I had also brought with me some cookies and chocolate for the refugees we had met the first day we visited the house. So I went into the living room and there they were, two young girls, between the ages of 11-13 and an older woman. These girls I was told are orphans, and the woman is their caretaker. The girls know a little English, the woman a little more. They recognized me and said hello in Slovak, so I did the same. I gave them the cookies and chocolate, and asked the woman if they needed anything else. With the little English she knew, she said, “dall”, and at first I was confused, but when you live in a foreign country, and don’t know the language very well, you learn to ”read the air”, or look at the whole situation, not just what is said. The woman used hand gestures and emotional expressions to help me along, and I realized the youngest girl needed a doll to cuddle, to help her sleep. In that moment of realization I felt this was the biggest thing I have been asked to do so far. So pray for this young girl, pray for all the refugees who need to feel safe when they sleep. Pray the Holy Spirit brings them the comfort they need. May you also feel His comfort today.