Operation Smile

You seldom find movies like this. Got both my parents to have TV dinner with me when I saw this on Astro last night. It was a refreshing change.

Here's how the story goes:
Katie, a teenage girl from Malibu, California, finds herself in the throes of growing up, facing her parents, her boyfriends, her sexuality and a privileged life. Half a world away in rural China, Lin, who shares the birthday with Katie, faces a much different reality. Because of facial deformity, she lives a life of fear and shame. Her father, Daniel, has devoted his life to her, with hopes and dreams that her circumstances will change one day.

The opportunity comes with the discovery of the worldwide "Doctor's Gift" program. Katie signs up for a trip to China. Once there, she is deeply touched by the work, which prompts her to take off on her own to find Lin. A "smile" is brought to Lin's face, Katie finds her soul and their extraordinary connection becomes a life-changing experience for both girls.

This movie is based on the work of the charity organization Operation Smile - Changing lives one smile at a time.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I was touched by Katie's honest reluctance to face reality. When she arrived for her volunteer mission in Shanghai, she came face-to-face with some of the kids she had to work with. Mostly she had only seen them in their heart-wrenching state on photographs back home in CA. "I can't do this," she whispered in sobs. "It's different when you have to see them up-front like this."
And then you watch how she took a bold step to find Lin, and overcame her heart's fear.

It struck me, because I know how true that is: to fear feeling so much for people. Fear that the love they need, you cannot give. Fear to be so close to those who need help, when you're so finite and weak yourself. When you touch, smell, see, feel people who need to know unconditional love and the power of God, people so different, treated so inhumanely yet human like us, but not knowing Him...so close to God's heart...man, it's hard. Thought of Matthew 28:19-20, God's Operation GO!

This movie was a good reminder not to be afraid to reach out. Wherever you wanna go for a mission. We GO still.
Changing lives one soul at a time.

Word.