Graduate Celebration
To all my friends and to so many others I’ve never met that are a part of the Child Hope community, I hope this letter finds you well! My name is Ian Gilligan, and I first visited Child Hope in December of 2013 on a short-term trip thru my local church. Since then, I’ve been able to visit several times throughout the years. Last month I had the privilege of visiting Child Hope to take part in this year’s graduation ceremony for the two oldest boys in the home, Clermond and Diene.
1 Peter 2:17 says to show honor to everyone. One of the reasons why the graduation was so beautiful was that I saw the effort that went into doing just that. Led by Joel and Spencer, several Child Hope staff members came up to speak on behalf of both graduates. I didn’t understand much of it (to my shame, my Creole is pretty much nonexistent), but I could tell how special it was. This was a family honoring its own, in a way that only a family could. As I continued observing, I felt like the Holy Spirit put a few thoughts on my mind as to what I was seeing. The words “peace”, “family” and “order” came to mind. What I was getting to witness was beautifully marked by those three things in a very profound, tangibly felt, and immediately noticeable way. After the ceremony and dinner portions of the evening had ended, the playing and dancing started up. It was ironic to mention “peace” and “order” in the midst of such a crazy dance party, but hey, just because those exist, doesn’t mean they can’t cut loose, go a little crazy, and dance the night away. Which they DID. It was a celebration!
Learning how to best support the people and ministry of Child Hope has been, and continues to be something that I grow and develop in. Presently for me that means financially sponsoring a graduate. Being able to support my friend through finances and prayer even after he graduates is to me part of what “loving well” looks like.
Jesus loves us so perfectly, consistently, and wholly. I continually have to remind myself that I am a guy who has visited these children only a handful of days throughout the years, and my understanding of the everyday goings on is very limited. Trusting that Jesus loves these kids infinitely more than I do has helped me trust and respect the leaders that he has placed in their lives, who also know and love them far more than I do. I was blessed to have been involved in the graduation, and am eagerly looking forward in hope to the future God has for Child Hope!
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