I have had the privilege of meeting and befriending one of the most amazing 11 year old girls. Her name is Grace, and she has been living here at Challenge Farm since April. This little one came up to me the other evening and took my hand and said she wanted to be my friend. Then she took me on a tour of her dorm… all the while singing and telling me stories. When she took me by all the photos that were hung in her dorm she named off all the girls in the pictures. I asked her if she was in any of the pictures and she said no, but one day she hopes to be. I told her that I have a camera and I would love to take her photo, she got so excited! Let me just tell you, Grace is quite the little poser. When I brought my camera out she led me all around the girl's side of the property saying "take a photo of me here. What about over there. Ok let me sit here. You stand there and take a photo of me sitting." She was so funny, I have yet to come across a child that has been that into getting their photo taken. (while on the race)
The property here at Challenge Farm is divided into 4 sections… The girl's side, the boy's side, the farm, and Momma Cheri's house. Unless invited into the farm and the house, all the children are not allowed into these areas. Aside from that Boys are to stay on their side and the same is expected of the girls. Its kind of interesting to watch… the kids will literally stop dead in their tracks when they reach the point of the property that they should not cross.
Any way, all this is to say, Grace stands at the edge of the girl's section and waits for me to come over to visit or sit with her at meal time. She loves to take my hand and lead me around. This morning she ran up to me before church and then led me over to a few seats that she had been saving. Throughout the service she would borrow my bible and show me her favorite passages, read the notes and look at pictures that I have tucked throughout my bible. But the thing that touched me the most was when she asked to borrow my journal and she wrote me a note. Through her broken English she wrote about hoe she loves me and she wants to be my friend. She is so genuine and precious, I love that when I look in her eyes I can see the love of God.
Then at dinner this evening, as usual, she took my hand and led me over to her table. We are not suppose to sit ate with the same kids at each meal (so that we can get to know all the kids), so I have been waiting to sit at Grace's table, but tonight I sat with her. As dinner was being served she asked if she could tell me a story. I quickly said yes, and thought that it would just be about something that she had seen or done earlier in the day. Instead, she proceeded to tell me about her family and how she ended up at Challenge Farm.
Grace's became a Christian at the age of six. One of her close friends led her to Christ, and would take her to church. Neither of her parents are Christians, nor will they go to church with her. When she was about nine years old her littler brother became very sick; she thinks that he had a rare type of malaria. He passed away a few weeks later, he was only seven at the time. Earlier this year Grace's father became abusive towards her, one night he was really angry at her and was about to beat her, but her mom stepped in and took the beating for her. After that Grace ran away from home for a while, when she went back home her parents had all but kicked her out. So Grace went to the friend that had led her to Christ. The friend told her about Momma Cheri and said that she would be safe there so that she would not have to live on the streets.
Grace still sees her parents on occasion, but it is very rare. Her dream is to attend college and become a doctor. But before she becomes a doctor she wants to help lead her parents to Christ. She loves where she is and wants to stay here at Challenge Farm, but she also still really loves her parents and wants to see them love Christ the way she does.
This sweet little girl has taught me more about love and joy over the past two days than I have known in all my life. I love her outlook and passion for life. I can't wait to spend the rest of this month with this precious little one.
