When I arrived on Friday and Olivia was gone I was scared that maybe she was in the hospital because something happened. I came to find out she was at the hospital in Hyderabad. I only could hope that her cast was being taken off but some of the other kids mentioned something about surgery, so I prayed and prayed that Jesus would be healing her and left my concerns at that.
That next Sunday we were supposed to take our focus children out to the beach for them to experience some time away from the home in an effort to give the kids a fun field trip or adventure. Obviously Olivia’s cast prohibited her from going to the beach so I had already planned on taking another little girl who I had spent some time with from Olivia’s room. I took a little girl named SaiSupriya and we had a great day.
In India the dress code for women is pretty strict even at the beach. Punjabi’s or outfits that cover both your ankles and your shoulders are often worn as bathing suits in the ocean. When SaiSupriya and I arrived at the beach I went to place her feet in the water, next thing I know we both got drenched and sandy while splashing in the water so I gave up trying to stay clean and sat right down in the waves with SaiSupriya on my lap. She laughed and splashed and had a great time and I loved it too but I wished that I could have taken Olivia.
As we went to return the kids home after the beach I walked SaiSupriya back to her bed. As I was exiting the room I saw Olivia was back and laying on her bed. I also noticed there wasn’t a blanket covering her anymore. Not only was there not a blanket covering her but I also saw that her CAST WAS GONE! I was so excited and celebrated by kissing her forehead as I left the room and told anyone that would listen about how her cast was gone.
Finally I knew that the next day I would get to sit and hold this beautiful little girl! So on Monday the first thing I did was took Olivia out into the common area of the center and sat with her on my lap and practically cried tears of joy because I was so happy for her.
Honestly her spirits have completely lifted, she smiles and giggles with me all the time and I still cover her face with kisses. The nannies have also noticed the care and attention my team and I give the children and I have noticed an extra effort and openness to learning how they can love on the children and provide for them a little more.
The good news is that Jesus answers prayers. He answers the prayers of our hearts to work with children while on the world race, and he also has a bigger plan that what we would have. If I had shown up and Olivia didn’t have any problems I wouldn’t have been moved to care for her as deeply, she wouldn’t have taken such a huge place in my heart, and God wanted me to invest in her not just physically but emotionally and spiritually. I won’t stop praying for this little girl now that her cast is gone, but who would have known if I would have prayed for her if she was fully healthy.
