Giving orphans identity: I AM boxes
While she lived in Swaziland, Lisa Black fell in love with the orphan children of Nsoko. She called them “children of the dirt“; they have nothing, no parents, no food, no possessions.
In some cases a sister of eleven years old is the head of the household. In other cases a three year old toddler may have to make the mile-long trek by themselves from their homestead to our carepoints to get food.
Lisa realized that many of these little children have no sense of identity – they are numb, with nothing to call their own, no one to give them hugs or speak tenderly to them.
She asked God what could be done and he gave her the concept of “I AM boxes” – a wooden box they could put little trinkets and Bible verses in, complete with a mirror on the lid for them to look in. Here’s how she describes her vision: “The I AM boxes will represent the individual stories, the truth of their lives, and the Identity given to them by the Lord, and the TRUTH of who they are called to be. The idea is dispelling shame, healing, and speaking truth and life. The children will also actually OWN something that is exclusively theirs to hold their minimal treasures, including their most important treasure, the Word of God.”
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Dad – Lisa had such an amazing vision. My heart breaks for those precious babies, wish I could hold them all. Love you!
Dear Dadi Seth,
We are so happy that God is using you mighty power and we are praying for you,your all ministry work.
May God bless You.Pleae if possible send to me these like of meteril for the orphans kids.
With love and blessings.
Ps.Emmanuel.
That’s one of the most moving things I have read in a long time. What a fantastic thing to do, what an amazing gift to give.
I look at my little lad and, like so many of our era, I have to work at training him out of the “I want” that is always seeking for treats and new toys.
Yet he knows the things that matter most. He knows his name, he knows I love him whether his behaviour is good or bad, he knows he is special both to me and to the Lord Jesus.
God bless those I AM boxes, God bless the touch of His love that is in them, God put in the heart of every child that is given one the knowledge of how truly amazing and special they are in His Kingly eyes.
lol Cxx
Seth,
This is one of the most powerful posts I’ve read on the blogoshpere in a long time. I had a vision of my 2-1/2 year old Grace having to find her way to a care station a mile away…I guess it hit me harder this morning because we’re on vacation at Disney World for the week. All of the excess that we enjoy here in the states and somewhere else in the world a toddler is walking just to survive. I couldn’t shake the image all day long today.
Blessings to you and your ministry,
Brandon
My own son, Seth, just got back from Swazi.
His stories about the orphans, coupled with your story about the I AM boxes really touched my heart.
God Bless AIM, and the difference that people are making in the lives of the Swazi people.