The first Sunday in Haiti on my way to
church, a girl came over and shyly took my Bible from my hand and
wrapped her arm around my waist as two other girls came over and
grabbed my other hand. If I would have known then how much I would
come to love this girl with my Bible in the coming weeks I would have
held her even tighter that first Sunday.
Her name is Esperanza and she has
taken a piece of my heart. I don’t know her story, nor how long she’s
been at Cambry (the name of the orphanage), all that I do know is
that she’s 12 years old. She is one of the most beautiful girls,
inside and out. When you look into her eyes you don’t see sadness,
but you see the light of Christ. She has such a peace and serenity
about her. Esperanza has such a servant’s heart too. She’s always
helping to look after the younger kids, making sure that everything
is in proper order, and offers what little she has to others.
Sometimes she seemed to take care of me more than the other way
around.
Esperanza would watch for me and when
she saw me would come running over for a hug and a kiss and to hold
my hand as we walk along to school, to church, to the water pump,
wherever. A few times I was able to catch her off guard and sneak up
on her, and her face would light up when she saw me. She was also
very protective of me, when some of the kids wanted to try to get me
say something inappropriate in Creole she would tell me not to, or
when they were saying something mean she sent them away.
On the day we left Cambry, after
spending about 2 ½ weeks there, it was difficult for us and for the
children. I had Esperanza in my lap and I noticed tears welling up in
her eyes, and it wasn’t even time for us to leave yet. I turned her
head and looked into her eyes as tears started to stream down her
face. I held her close for a long time as she cried on my shoulder.
It took every ounce of self-control to not start sobbing with her. I
knew that the love that was poured out on her would not be soon
forgotten.
Part of me is completely amazed that
we could love each other so much without even speaking the same
language, then another part of me thinks, of course we can love each
other because we both know Christ. I think it was that knowledge that
helped to be able to leave her. You see I have prayed over her so
many times and because of this, I have trust that the Lord will keep
her and take care of her just as He promises in His word. I know that
God will continue to work and move in her life. I’m just grateful I
got to be a part of Esperanza’s story and that I can and do continue
to have influence in her life through prayer.
