Little did I realize what the simple and gentle touch of a child could do to me.
Her name is Tenela. She is all but 3 years old. She doesn’t say much of anything, but it was her touch and facial expressions that spoke volumes and melted my heart! 
When I first met her, she was quiet and shy. She didn’t smile or laugh much. One thing I did notice was how much she paid attention to detail…more detail than most people I’ve met! She would touch my face, and look into my eyes, yet pierce my heart with her precious and innocent love! As her tiny hands went down my face, her fingers would touch my lips, where she would proceed to run her fingers around them and into my mouth. She noticed something…it was different. My teeth weren’t the same as hers. She would look up at me and go back to “investigating” her discovery.
This touched me beyond words. The simplicity of a child. The wonder and curiosity. It spoke to me. She saw what most people don’t see, yet still loved me, touched me, and held onto me.
Every day that I would come, she would turn and look at me….study me, then run to my arms. This child was special. Not only to me, but to many on the team. I loved spending time with her. I would often find myself just sitting, with her in my lap, and often having her fall asleep in my arms. Pouring out God’s love and singing to her, and watching her frown and sadness turn into joy and laughter.
Her mom came to Remar with Tenela, and two other children…leaving an 11 year old daughter back home! 4 children, three different Father’s. No money. No job. No hope. Remar was giving them food, love and hope…yet they still didn’t seem happy. As I got to know this family, my heart continued to break. All ll I could do was spend hours loving them, praying for them and building a relationship with them! They had only been there three weeks…three short weeks…and we were there. God’s perfect timing!
The last day I was at Remar before all the kids came to the Cowshed, I was able to spend more time than I could have hoped for with this family! The mom looked for me, wanting to be prayed for and opened up her heart to me! I shared about God in a deeper way, and encouraged her to continue to love her family and to trust God. As I talked and prayed, Tenela was asleep in my arms…I shared that I did not know whether I would be back in Swaziland, but knew at some point I would be back in Africa…and at that point, she offered me her daughter! Told me she was my child and that she loved me and talked about me when I was gone in the evenings…My heart stopped. I was shocked, humbled, and without words! How could I take someone else’s child, or even want to!? Yes, I LOVE this little girl, but this child needs her mom! My heart sunk…little did I know that this would be the one last time I would see them and hold Tenela!
I was shocked when I went back to Remar our last day of ministry, to find out that Tenela and her family had “run away” over the weekend. I didn’t know what to say or do…I went numb. My heart broke. I cried. I know they are in the hands of our loving Father, but it doesn’t relieve the pain or fact that I never got to say good-bye or say one last prayer or receive one last hug and smile! They are not mine – they are God’s. Although it is hard, I am forever blessed to have met this family and be touched by such a loving child!
Please pray for this family. Pray that they will seek God and know that Remar, and God, never closes the door.
