09 Jun Go by Danita Estrella-Watts
“Open your mouth for the speechless in the cause of all who are appointed to die.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
– Proverbs 31:8-9
When I was 11 years old, my father took me to Haiti on a mission’s trip. I never dreamt that 25 years later, I would pack my bags and move to Haiti by myself with nothing but a promise from God, “Go and I will be with you.” This step of faith was huge for me. You see, I was the girl who spent her whole life playing it safe, and never dared to take a risk because I struggled with the fear of failure. I spent my first year volunteering at different churches and organizations, but I felt like I had an assignment that I had not yet discovered. I cried myself to sleep one night and prayed, “Lord, thank you for sending me to Haiti… but why am I here?”
The next day, I had a defining moment. I was having lunch at a cafe. I watched as the orphans and street children lined up by the door waiting for an opportunity to dig through the trash cans so they could eat the leftovers. I locked eyes with a little boy and decided that I would purchase a plate of food for him before returning home. Moments later, I heard the screams of a child. That same little boy was being whipped by a farmer that had been herding his cattle that day. He was angry with the street children who were crowding the entrance of the restaurant and he decided to make an example out of the little boy.
I used to be a quiet, shy woman, but that day, something came over me. I got out of my seat, ran to the street corner, grabbed the man by the collar, and pleaded for the boy’s life. The startled man threw the boy down on the street. I was shaking, and with tears in my eyes, I picked up the boy, ordered a couple of plates of food, and walked him a couple of blocks away to safety. It was not an audible voice or a burning bush, but that day, I knew what I was called to do.
As I walked home, I prayed and said, “Lord, these children do not need to eat out of trash cans, and they need to know that you love them.” That was fifteen years ago, and by God’s grace, Danita’s Children is now a home for 104 children, a school, a church, and a pediatric medical center. But before any of that was possible, I still had to ‘Go.’ What fears are holding you back from what God has called you to do? Verse: Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me! (NIV)
Questions:
- Whose life could you save today if you took a risk and stepped out of your comfort zone?
- What fears are holding you back from what God is calling you to do?
Danita Estrella-Watts, Founder/CEO – Danita’s Children
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Danita.Estrella
Twitter: @DanitasChildren Instagram: DanitasChildren