What do you think of when we hear the word “Jubilee?” I have always thought of a great celebration!
In the Bible, “Jubilee” was a time of celebration observed by the Israelites every 50th year. Well, today we visited the various homes of Sarah’s Covenant House, one of the ministry partners of Adventures in Missions.
Sarah’s Covenant Homes is an orphan care home for special needs children in Southern India. They provide surgeries and daily care for over 100 children. However, what they provide most is love and acceptance. These children are not treated as orphans when they arrive at SCH; they are treated as children who are a part of a loving family.
The “ayahs“ (caretakers), nurses, and foster moms are truly anointed by God to care for these children. As I observed them in action I truly witnessed the fruits of the spirit among these women and God began to deal with me about these characteristics in my own life, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23) Clearly, there is so much I can learn from these women as I watched the Holy Spirit naturally work through them to care for these children.
Although each home was remarkable, the “Jubilee Home” made a distinct impression on me that I will never forget. As soon as the door opened, the teenage girls ran to say hello, touch my braids, shake our hands, and teach us the word “friend” in sign language.
I must admit, at first the excitement and joy they felt for us when we arrived was overwhelming. Living in our Nation’s Capitol back home, it is rare when teens greet you with such joy upon the first meeting. Although these children are classified as “special needs” what I witnessed today was simply “special.” It made me think of how our Father God and all the angels in heaven rejoice and celebrate us when we make the decision to follow Him.
“Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won’t she
light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until
she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she’ll call her friends
and neighbors: ‘Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!’ Count on
it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul
turns to God.” Luke 15:8-10, Message
Every time a lost soul turns to God, there is great celebration in heaven! What I’ve learned is that every time the girls at Jubilee home receive visitors there is great celebration among them! The way these teen girls celebrated our arrival made my heart smile. Our appearance and looks did not matter. They were just full of joy and jubilee that radiated from the inside-out! I truly believe that regardless of their past situations, that God has truly restored them and has given them a heart of jubilee that is simply contagious to anyone who will meet them!
*Photos by Kristen
