Meet Ava May. The picture is not the greatest quality, but it is one that I will always cherish. I see this picture and her sweet face in my mind quite often as I pray and sometimes even as I try to fall asleep.
I met 14-year-old Ava May in the Philippines when I was working for Samaritan’s Purse. The Philippines had suffered a devastating tsunami and Ava May was living in a squatter’s community underneath an abandoned overpass. The community was next to the ocean and controlled by what we might call pimps. Ava May and other young girls were forced into prostitution at the age of ten and often found themselves pregnant.
Ava May enjoyed teaching small children; children born of the young girls forced to prostitute themselves. By day, Ava May taught these beautiful children the truth of God and his goodness and the assurance of his promises and did so with great fervor. By night, she was forced to give herself to anyone who was willing to pay those who governed over her. The fervor and passion with which Ava May taught shocked me…she was enthusiastic and wholeheartedly believed every word she shared with the kids. But how? How could she believe the hope she spoke of even existed given the life she was living?
After weaving through a maze of cardboard and corrugated metal, Ava May proudly took me into her home. As she gave me a quick tour of her home, I found myself so humbled by the depth of her faith, despite the obvious dire circumstances in which she lived day to day. I could feel my eyes filling with tears as my mind tried to process what this beautiful young girl dealt with every day. I could not help but question the goodness of God… just for a moment.
Next thing I knew, I just blurted out, “Ava May, you undoubtedly believe everything you teach the kids…but how!? What makes you believe so completely?” This what she said to me: ”Well, when I wake up every day, I thank God for the ability to breathe the ocean air. When I put on my clothes, I thank God for them. When I eat, I am thankful he has provided food for me. When I laugh with the children, I am thankful for the joy he allows in my life.”
So many things went through my mind in those moments. Ava May trusted God for EVERYTHING. She thanked him for EVERYTHING. Her faith humbled me. Her trust in God humbled me. Her gratitude humbled me. I was humbled to the point of embarrassment. How could someone who had so little be so grateful? A better question, how could someone like me, who has so much, lack the gratitude to thank God and trust God as Ava May did? I was not only embarrassed, but I was also jealous. I wanted faith like Ava May. I wanted to wake up grateful for God’s presence in my life and grateful to be known and loved by him…just as Ava May did.
Mission trips can be life changing. I can honestly say, every trip I have taken has changed me in some way. God teaches me and humbles me every single time I go to serve. It is easy to think you are going to do the teaching and serving and the giving, but more times than not, YOU are the one God is refining and teaching. Meeting Ava May challenged me to go deeper, trust God more and live life with so much more gratitude…meeting her changed me.
IMC is taking a team to Honduras this summer in July. Our team will leave on July 6 and return July 14. We will be working in two different areas in Honduras doing light construction in the mornings and hosting a camp for children in the afternoon. The total cost for the trip, including airfare, is $1900.
Join us…meet your Ava May.
In it with you,
Rhonda Blanchard
Executive Director for IMC
Interested? Email rhondablanchard.imc@gmail.com
or click this link to fill out an interest form.
https://mailchi.mp/01052be07cfb/missiontrip.
