For the past year I’ve been living with my sister and her family. My sister is blessed with a caring husband and three beautiful children, Meikayla, Sidney, and Latavia. Each one of my nieces has a special place in my heart and the time I’ve spent with them will be forever cherished. When I found out I was leaving at the end of June I began wondering how a 7, 4, and 3 year old were going to understand the immensity of what I was about to embark on. I decided I needed to bring the trip down to their level.
I pulled out a globe and showed them where they lived and then proceeded to show them the countries I would be visiting throughout the next 11 months. I told them I was doing this trip to help little kids all over the world who don’t have mommies and daddies like them, who don’t have a big house and a swimming pool in the back yard, who don’t have drawers full of toys, who don’t know about Jesus. There little minds grasped as much as they were capable of, but I still wasn’t satisfied. I didn’t want Aunt Shanda to just disappear one day and never return. So I borrowed a plan (thanks Jessica).
I took each of my nieces on a special dates. We went to the movies, to coffee shops, to dinner, and to toy stores. The visit to the toy store was the special part. I told them that they could each pick out two small toys, one to keep and one to give away. I explained that while I was traveling around I would be looking for three little girls that reminded me of them and when I found the right girls I would give them the matching toys. When I find the little girl that is smarter than she should be for her age and has stunning eyes, I’ll give her Meikayla’s dog. When I find a little girl with more energy than the energizer bunny and with a wacky sense of humor, I’ll give her Sidney’s puppy. When I find a little girl that loves to be hugged and is a bit clumsy, I’ll give her Latavia’s doll. I told my neices that I would take a picture with each girl and their toy to send back to them. I hope that by seeing the joy they bring to a little girl all the way around the world they will feel a part of this journey with me.
(Meikayla and the two matching dogs)
Drum roll please…I’ve found the first little girl! Her name is Dubexi. She’s the daughter of one of our ministry partners this month. We’ve been living behind their house which has resulted in many afternoons spent with Dubexi, playing cards, looking at photographs, and painting. I speak very little spanish and she speaks no english, but somehow we manage to have full conversations and understand each other almost perfectly.
(Dubexi with her dog and the photograph of Meikayla)
I’ve decided to give her Meikayla’s little toy puppy. Dubexi is quite the clever little thing. This month I was asked to cover my visible tattoos due to the conservatism in this area, however, within two days Dubexi discovered both! She’s good at cards and has beaten me multiple times at ‘Go Fish’. And to top it all off she has beautiful sparkling eyes that dance with joy. I’ve found my Nicaraguan Meikayla in Dubexi!
