January 16, 1998
Dear Friends of the Poor,
As the new year already begins to slip away we want to remind you to look for God's grace in the “hidden places“. Don't let 1998 pass you by, but allow this to be the year the Lord really has your undivided attention.
When we were in India last month we were reminded of this lesson. In Samanthana Illam or “The Place of Peace”, (the Word Made Flesh children's home for mentally and physically disabled children), there is a little blind girl. Her name is Poornima. She was the first child taken into the home.
Poornima was abandoned in a government hospital because of her special needs. She is blind, deaf, mute, and has terrible seizures. We are unsure of her age, but her size and dental records seems to place her around 7 or 8 years old.
Her days seem to pass in obscurity. Since she has no muscle control she is confined to a large crib where she lays motionless morning and night. She is unable to do anything for herself. She needs to be bathed and fed which can be very time consuming. We pray that in some small way we would be able to communicate our love for her and God's love for her. Sadly, she never responds.
One afternoon a very wealthy business man from Madras visited the home. He was the type of man who thought there to be very little value in those with special needs. He went from bed to bed touching and talking to each of the children. He seemed to grow more and more quiet as he noticed the disabilities each child had.
Finally he came to Poornima. He stared at this little one's eyes for a long time. Suddenly he spoke out, “In the eyes of this blind girl God has shown me His love”. It was at that moment that the Lord met this man. He had never “heard” from God nor had he ever really sensed God's love for him, but as he stood in the presence of this tender child the Lord revealed Himself.
Our prayer for you is that God would also show you His love “in the eyes of a blind girl“. In the functionless eyes of a small, poor girl a powerful man saw something beautiful. May you also see God's hand leading you and instructing you in the “hidden places” this year.
In our high-paced society our business and obligations can often distract us from the Master who we are trying to serve. It is our hope that 1998 will be a year of discovering more of who Jesus is and a year of learning to receive more of His presence in our lives. We know that it is only out of intimate communion with our Lord that His ministry will freely flow through us for the redemption of many.
Enclosed is our itinerary for the spring of 1998 so you can have an idea where we are throughout the next few months. It is our prayer that in the midst of our busy schedule, we will always make time to wait on God and listen to Him.
May all of us decrease, that the Lord Jesus may increase and draw all people to Himself! Come Lord Jesus!
Servants among the least,
Chris & Phileena Heuertz