My anticipation grew as we walked through the door into the
tiny but colorful home. I had
heard stories about the little girl I was about to meet, but nothing compared
to the moment I saw her laying in bed. The hard part is over. They
had already cleaned her wounds. There she was, lying on her stomach. The burns all down her back and butt keep her from any other
position. As her mother put on the
medical gloves to put cream on her wounds my stomach turned. To see open flesh on a naked child can
only break your heart. To hear the
screams and have to physically restrain her as her mother cringes with every
second is beyond words. Seconds seem hours. Then,
it is over. The medicine is
applied and the girl is silent. Moments later she begins crying. I cannot speak. Even if I could, my Spanish is limited to hello, goodbye, and where is
the bathroom? But I take her hand
in mine. Look deep into her eyes,
hoping that a gentle voice and deep smile can communicate all my love for
her. I start to sing. “Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest.” As
she calms down I realize the power of asking God to save. Shortly after this revelation, there
she is. Playing with my hair. Laughing. Playing rock, paper, scissors. God saved Yakaeri, my prayer is that this little girl
will grow to know Jesus Christ as her Savior. And who knows, maybe she is the one the Lord has ordained to bring
change to the community. Or
maybe just change to my team. Either way, tonight I will fall asleep to the singing “Hosanna…”
