She was one of the first kids I saw at our ministry site. Sheri stood at well under 5 ft., and she was the definition of tiny. Her chocolate eyes were always taking things in despite being painfully shy.
She didn’t exactly avoid my team, but she was never really around when the other kids were either. I didn’t have the opportunity to seek her out because we work mostly with the adults.
We’ve been able to teach the children 2 times while we’ve been here. The first time Sheri only stayed for a little while. The second time she stuck around longer. I was told that Sheri didn’t go to school, and that she wouldn’t participate as much because of that.
We were sitting next to each other in a circle while the class played a game to learn English. She was too shy to do more than smile when I spoke to her. Sheri put put one hand on the ground and tapped her fingers with her index finger on the other hand.
My dad and I do that to each other all the time. It was something I could work with, so I put my hand down and did the same. We were soon tapping each others fingers and giggling together.
I sat next to her for the next game where she promptly drew my arm into her lap. She played with my fingers and compared the colors of our skin. She traced my fingers with puzzled awe. As if she couldn’t believe how white I was.
A few hours later found us playing in the grass together. We tore apart clovers and flowers. We wore them as natural jewelry or blew them as wishes into the wind. She held my hand, not letting go once. She eventually migrated under my arm to nuzzle into my side, and she took my other arm to wrap around her waist and hold my hand.
I was fascinated by Sheri. She looked like a child, acted like a child, but she was likely my age or older. She had a sweetness to her that was absolutely adorable. She hid cute smiles behind her hands and she dragged me around with contagious excitement.
She had a mischievous side too. She threw leaves in a girl’s hair, then swore up and down that it came from the trees. She had to hide her laughter in my shoulder when the girl looked up confused.
All in all, Sheri is beautiful. A perfect picture of the little children Jesus welcomes into His embrace. I’m grateful that Jesus gave me an opportunity to feel the love He has for Sheri. It’s something I will never forget.
