For the past month, I have been going to the dump under the
overpass twice a week. The majority (if not all) of my time has been spent with
2 girls. The first is a beautiful 14-year-old girl named Rosa lee. Something
about her stuck out to me right away when I met her; perhaps it was her name
being the same as a neighbor of mine. Perhaps she tugged at my heart for
another reason. My first day at the dump, I met a 15-year-old girl who had an
adorable, little baby girl with a 30-year-old man, who also lived at the dump.
My thoughts immediately went to
Rosa lee and wondering if that would be her
life next year. I saw a passion in Rosa lee and such potential to do great
things. She told me her dream of becoming a teacher someday and I spent a lot
of time sharing with her the importance of staying in school. Many of my prayers are for Rosa lee’s
future.
The second girl is Dona Grace. When we were together this spunky
and bright 7-year-old spent almost every moment on my shoulders. I was very impressed
with her English and her persistence and patience to find someone to help with
words that she did not know and could not communicate to me. Without fail, every
time our packed van pulled up to the dump Dona Grace would be running to the
car yelling “Ate Courtney” (Ate means big sister).
preformed a skit to Lifehouse’s song “Everything”.
I was able to pray over themand share in their joy of receiving a Bible. I shared my favorite verse with
Rosa lee and she said she would read it often. A few weeks later we brought a
blue barrel of water to baptize the new believers. As a line started to form,
Dona Grace asked me sincerely, “Ate, can a little girl like me be baptized?” I
asked her if she believed that God was her Father, and Christ died for her sins.
When she responded “opo” (meaning yes), I joyfully told her “yes, opo”. She
smiled and joined the line. The pastor asked if I wanted to be the one to
baptize Dona Grace. So, my first ever baptism…
