This is Rutuja. She is 8 years old. She loves pink. She has the cutest little head bobble. She has the best laugh. She loves to spin, swing, sing, and hold hands. She’s quiet at first, and then can start spouting off in Marathi in a second. She’s got a gentle spirit with a touch of spunk.
Another thing you should know about Rutuja is that she is living with HIV.
Rutuja came to Karunalay, the orphanage that we have been doing ministry in, a little over a year ago. I don’t know much of her story, but I know that she came from a government institution that sent her to this orphanage because of her HIV.
I got to spend the past 10 days getting to know this little one and it has been amazing to see her come out of her shell and watch her personality shine through. From the very start, she and I gravitated toward each other. It was love at first sight. She reminds me a lot of myself at that age. Quiet and reserved, but with an opinion of her own that she’s not afraid to share. She holds back in big groups, but one and ones are where she seems to come alive. She and I spent countless times throwing a ball back and forth to each other, playing crisscross applesauce and hand clapping games.
Even though I couldn’t speak to her and have her understand, she taught me a lot about showing love rather than speaking it. She would seek me out just to sit by me, or hold my hand, or just lean up against me and smile. These sweet times with her are some of my favorites. I will miss those moments.
My prayer for Rutuja is that she grows up knowing how loved she is. That she lives based on her identity in Christ and not by the stigma that comes from having HIV. I pray that she walks in hope, that she dreams big and changes the world. I pray that she never loses her fire, and that her heart is filled with love for others, and that she’s courageous. Rutuja’s name means “of the seasons”, and I believe that the Lord is going to redeem the seasons of Rutuja’s life and call her into newer, deeper seasons with Him.
In such a young life, she has already been through and overcome so much. I am blessed to have had this time with her. Please join with me in praying for this sweetheart and the other orphans living with HIV. They are overcomers, and have so much joy. They are so worthy of love.
To learn more about this orphanage please check out karunalay.org
