The past two weeks, a terrible stomach bug has made its way through the home. Leaving many of the children with stomach aches, diarrhea, fevers. With that has come hospital visits, bringing the sickest little ones back to the base for closer care, late nights, and less sleep.

I often wonder what it must feel like to be a small child—sick, far from the comforts of home, far from Mom—when everything around you is still so new, and homesickness hasn’t had time to fade. My heart aches for them.

As I was sitting with two of the sick children today, the lyrics from the song “Send Me” by Bethel Music came to mind:

“If it’s bandaging the broken,
Or washing filthy feet,
Here I am, Lord, send me…”

Or if it’s cleaning up diarrhea,
Changing overflowing diapers,
Making endless trips to the bathroom,
Holding feverish babies close—
Even then: Here I am, Lord. Send me.

It truly is an honor to serve and love these children—even in the messiest, most exhausting moments. And I am grateful to be here.