I was sitting in the pews the first day of VBS, as I looked around at the kids filing in I saw sweet Mydaline. We smiled at each other and I continued scanning the church. The next thing I knew she had found her way to me, scooted in close, put her arm around me, and I felt the love of Jesus radiating from her.
When it was time for the kids to go to their stations, she communicated that it was time for her to go somewhere else. One of the Hope workers came to take her to an appointment, I asked if I could join, she agreed hesitantly. We walked hand in hand to the lab where she would be fitted for a prosthetic leg.The doctor didn’t have time, so we went back and joined the other kids. As we were walking back my heart broke for her. All the other kids were running around playing but she couldn’t.
We found a shady spot near the group, sat down and started playing hand games. When those were exhausted, I sat there trying to figure out what to do next when I hear her singing Healer by Kari Jobe, in English. Tears welled up in my eyes immediately. I am so faithless, feeling sorry for her because she can’t be a normal kid, but she is singing about how Jesus can heal her. I began to sing along with her, then she started singing 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman, I realized she knew more songs in English. I began to sing my favorite Creole worship song and we worshiped together for 30 minutes or more. Our eyes locked, there was so much going on around us, rocks being thrown, rubber bands being shot, kids being mean, but it didn’t matter our eyes remained. This worship was the most pure form of worship I have ever experienced, as I sat on the ground staring into the beautiful eyes of a 10 year old who didn’t speak an ounce of my language. We spent the rest of the day loving on each other and enjoying each others company.
Mydaline is a 10 year old amputee from Titanyan, Haiti. Two years ago in the middle of the night, a truck lost control and drove through her home killing her grandma and taking her leg. MOH found her the first week of VBS in July. They saw that same sparkle in her eye that I saw. Her joy is so contagious that it didn’t take long to realize God’s grace has been all over her life.
The next day I was running late to VBS, as I was walking to the church I saw Mydaline. Her face lit up, she had the biggest smile, grabbed my hand, and pulled for me to come with her. We went to the lab where she was measured for a new prosthetic leg, as uncomfortable as it looked her smile remained. The week went on, we spent 4 hours together every morning as we went to the different VBS stations. She even had me up on stage singing a Creole song together in front of our group so she could get a prize.
I had planned to come with her to every appointment and to be there with her when she learned how to take her first steps again,but unfortunately things came up and I wasn’t able to go. That shattered my heart because there was nothing else that I would rather do than be with her in this life changing moment. And the worst part was that I didn’t even get to say goodbye to her. Every bus ride down the streets of Haiti my head was literally almost out the window looking at every passing face, hoping that i would find my little girl. Imagining in my head a movie scene moment of reunion and a chance to say goodbye,to tell her how much God loved her and that He has an amazing plan for her life. Even as we were driving to the airport for our departure I felt so incomplete. I was ready to leave Haiti and move on to what was ahead in our next country, but it didn’t feel right leaving the country without saying goodbye to Mydaline.
I have hope that I will see her again. In this life or not, I am sure that I will see her in Heaven. Worshiping the Lord together once again for eternity.
I’m not sure that I could ever explain the way this little 10 year old girl changed my life. All I can say is Jesus. The love He showed me through her, and the way he showed me His love for her. His two daughters enjoying His presence in each other.
