Day 45-47: How deep the Father's love for us

Aunt Bonnie is here!! She got in Sunday night, but unfortunately, all of her bags did not get into this country with her. Her suitcase with all of her clothes and a few camp supplies was stuck somewhere in Atlanta. It is supposed to come this morning(Wednesday), so please keep praying for that as we are all a little anxious about it for her. We are all so happy that she's finally here though. Katie and I have been anticipating her arrival for so long, and already we have just had so much more fun with her here.

We leave for the gypsy camp tomorrow morning! This week so far, we have been working very hard organizing all of the supplies and clothes, and talking through the schedule and responsibilities. I am really getting excited for this camp - I think it's going to be fantastic. We saw the children last night at church in Apalina, and the excitement there was so high that we could feel it even before we got into the village where tons of children were waiting to meet us. They were pretty hyper and high strung last night, which was a little intimidating and VERY reminiscent of a couple of days at camp last year haha, but I think they will calm down after a day or two there. At least, I think some of them will.

Last night after we arrived in the village, I was greeting several of the children, and who should come walking down the street but my little angel of a child, Gyorgy. I think I told you about him a few weeks ago, he's about four years old - I posted a picture of the two of us. Attila had never met him before that night either, so I wasn't sure that I would see Gyorgy again because he lives way up on the hill on the outskirts of Apalina and I had no idea who his parents were or anything. But there he was with his mother and he got so excited when he saw me and ran over right into my arms. I cannot tell you how thrilled I was that he remembered me! He's just so precious, and he stayed by my side the entire time we were outside in the street. I picked him up and took him into the prayer meeting where he promptly fell asleep in my lap and snored the whole time. :D

One of the things about all of these children that is so endearing, is the way that they just cuddle up to you immediately after you meet them - and Gyorgy is no exception. After I picked him up, he just put his head on my shoulder and every once in awhile would hold my hand or put his arm around me. I don't think that child has ever had a bath haha, but I wouldn't have traded holding him for anything. I can't stop saying how much I adore all of the children in Apalina - they are so bad sometimes, but even when they're bad I can't help loving them. Sometimes it just gives me a chance to see their personality haha, but when you think about it, we are so unloveable as humans. We really have no redeemable qualities, but God loves us regardless of ourselves. He loves us because He is love. So even as mad as I get sometimes with my children here, as much as it disappoints me when they are disobedient(which believe me is quite frequent), I have this beautiful picture of God's love for us in the way that I love them. And I will never be able to love them the way that He does, and that is so comforting.

I am reminded of Orual in C.S. Lewis' book Until We Have Faces, and the way that she believes no one can possibly love Psyche as much as she does, how vastly wrong she is, and the way she is humbled at the end when she finally understands. Isn't it incredible how our love for each other here is just a broken piece of what love really is? That our understanding of intense love, even sacrificial love, is shallow compared to the love of our Father? This is one of my favorite hymns of all time because I think the words are just beautiful:

How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss, the Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One, bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon the cross, my sin upon his shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, call out almong the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there, until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom,
But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom