He wandered into the room where we were setting up for the puppet show, looking lost and forlorn. I walked over to him and slowly held out my hands not sure if he would let me touch him or not. The expression on his face didn’t change, so I carefully picked him up. Finding a chair, I settled him on my lap. He held himself stiffly as far away from me as he could get without falling off. We sat like that for several minutes. I couldn’t see his face, but he didn’t seem to be crying or distressed. Suddenly he sighed, long and deep, then leaned back against me. Within moments he was sound asleep. He had found a safe place.

I never learned his name, but to me, he represents every child in the world who is lost, lonely and needs someone to “pick them up” and  love on them. Kids Alive International is doing just that through their residential homes, schools and care centers. Here those children find a “safe place” where they are given food, shelter, medical care, education and love – not just the love of the adults caring for them, but they are introduced to the love of Jesus Christ.

This little boy and others like him are the reason I am embarking on a two-year journey to the Dominican Republic through Kids Alive. It is both an awesome privilege and a tremendous responsibility to engage with Kids Alive in the process of providing a safe place for needy and neglected children.

I’m ready to go. I’m excited and eager. I can’t wait to get there and offer another little one a safe place.