After camp on Thursday, Faith returned home, only to be vio-
lently chased away yet again. This time, her caretakers threat-
ened her to never return. From there, she walked an astounding
eleven miles in the dark to the site of camp. When she was found
by on-site workers, she told them that her name was Faith, and
that Camp Life was the only place she wanted to be. The work-
ers searched the camp registry in an attempt to identify her, but
were unable to find a match, since they had not been notified of
her name change. Finally, one of the workers noticed she wore
a beaded necklace which still read “Betty.” But when asked if
her name was actually Betty, she insisted her name was Faith.
Only after much persistence from her interrogators did she re-
luctantly admit that her name used to be Betty. It was as if she
had always been Faith, and Betty had never existed.
Shortly after, she moved into the Tree of Life, Family Legacy’s
orphan village. As one who has volunteered with the mission
organization for multiple summers, I have had the opportunity
to interact and build relationships with the children living here
where they are fed, clothed, discipled, and given an education.
Like Betty, these children begin a new life and put on a new self
as soon as they move in.
. . . a name that did not depict darkness and misery, but rather
one that depicted her new steadfast trust in Christ: Faith.
The 700 other children currently living in the Tree of Life have
stories similar to Faith’s. Before their new lives, they experienced
extreme levels of abuse and pain. However, their new lives now
offer something completely different. Those who come from a
past of physical abuse can now live a life of safety. Those who
came from a past of sexual abuse are now able to live a life of
purity. Those who came from a past of hunger have run into a
life of plenty. The ones who were once at death’s doorstep due
to HIV have entered into a life of good health. The uneducated
are receiving knowledge.
resort to countless pleasures offered by the world, only to be
left feeling more lost and confused than before.
There are some of us who have been victimized by more than
just the false promises of this world. Maybe we have faced abuse
and neglect that makes everything in this life seem hopeless.
Maybe our past paints a future from which no good can seem-
ingly come. Those of us in these situations can gain hope from
Betty’s transition. We can learn from her throwing away of her
past self and putting on her new one. Betty’s broken life has
ended, and Faith now walks in her shoes, rejoicing in the days
that are to come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) says, “Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed
away; behold, the new has come.” A new life bought by the
shed blood of Christ removes a past life of sin and wickedness,
brokenness and pain, lies and confusion. In its place, God plac-
es a brand new person filled with righteousness, completeness,
and wisdom. We are given a new hope that Hebrews 6:19-20
describes as a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.
As transforming as this hope is, it by no means eliminates our
earthly suffering. Instead, it serves as a reminder. It gives us a
glimpse into the past of what our lives once were. It shows
us the Betties we once were—the lost, lonely, aimless wander-
ers—and lets us rejoice in the Faiths we are now. Furthermore,
it reminds us of the life free of suffering we will one day live. It
is an encouragement to press on, to run the race, and to fight
the fight. We will still stumble. We will still suffer. But the hope
we have in Christ carries us through life’s storms by giving us a
glimpse of the glory that lies beyond this earth.
Isaac Whitney is a junior studying Economics.
These outward transformations are miraculous, but they pale
in comparison to the children's inward transitions. The Tree of
Life allows them to lead a life of comfort and safety they could
otherwise never have. However, it is clear from their exuberant
attitudes and praise-filled lives that their true happiness does
not come from the fascinating books they read, the filling meals
they eat, or the fluffy pillows they lay their heads on each night.
Salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ has provided them
with a hope that reaches beyond this world. It is a hope they
would cling to just as firmly, if not more so, if they were to be
sent back to their old homes.
This hope is not exclusive to children living in extreme poverty.
Many of our stories may not be as graphic as theirs, but we
may nonetheless lead lives of brokenness and pain. We wander
in search of meaning. In an attempt to find true happiness, we
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