Maybe it’s just the motherly instinct in me.
Maybe God is using my past to change lives today.
I believe in love at first sight.
I believe that two people can fall in love without ever speaking a word.
The first day we walked into Cambodia Hope Association Orphanage, I spotted her in the corner lying on the ground. I headed straight for her. She was wearing only a diaper, part of her hair pulled up, and drool running down her chin. She was beautiful!! Her name is Deborah and she is 5 years old. Deborah’s mom is a prostitute, and her dad was a customer. Deborah is a fetal alcohol syndrome baby. When she was born her mom took her to her grandmother’s and left her. Deborah’s grandmother pulls a cart behind her all day collecting empty plastic bottles. She had no money for food, so for the first 3 years of her life all Deborah was given to eat was water. She was rescued and brought to the orphanage only after her grandmother had decided to throw her away in the garbage so she didn’t have to watch her die. The children and staff at the orphanage prayed over Deborah that first night, begging God to spare her life. Two years later, here she is…
There is something special between us that even the other kids recognize. Every time we walk through the gates the girls say, “Sister, sister!! Deborah!” and I am pointed in the direction of where she is. Whenever I see her I say, “Deborah!! My BEAUTIFUL!! How are you?”, to which she replies by throwing her head back and smiling the second biggest smile I’ve ever seen. I pick her up and we sing “Jesus loves Deborah”, (Jesus loves Me) and she smiles the BIGGEST smile I’ve ever seen and just laughs.
The first few days of ministry, our contact repeatedly apologized that there was no one to watch her. The orphanage can’t afford special staff or even afford one extra person to be with her all the time so the responsibility falls on the older children. I reassure him there is no other place on the face of the earth I’d rather be than holding her and loving on her. We spend our day sitting on the floor, doing exercises to help develop her gross motor skills and walking around the property singing.
The hardest part of the day is when it is time to leave, I hand her back to one of the other children and she cries. Her facial expression changes before I even hand her back, as if she knows what is coming. The second I’m no longer touching her, the bottom lip pops out, the tears flow, and she cries. The only time she is vocal is when laughs and when she cries, so it literally breaks my heart to hear this sound. Some days I am able to walk away before I hear the cry, other days I turn around and take her back.
I want nothing more than to be Deborah’s mom. The reality is, I am an unemployed, single, 28 year old, female who is serving the Lord and spreading His love for a year (and who knows after that). The reality is chances of me adopting Deborah myself are slim to none. God knows where my heart is right now, and He has placed Deborah in it. I can’t take her with me at the end of the month but with your help I can offer her a better tomorrow!!
Right now the orphanage has no equipment for Deborah. Not even a chair for her to sit in. God has placed it on my heart to buy her a chair, a few toys that are developmentally appropriate, and a few new outfits for her. (Currently her clothes are way too big for her, and are basically rags.) On average between 150-250 people read my blogs…if everyone that reads this would give $2 that would be more than enough to provide Deborah these things. Prayerfully consider giving to this. Email me any questions you might have.
To help give to Deborah's new chair please click this link!! Share this blog and Deborah's story with everyone you know!!!
http://www.gofundme.com/2aispo
Since coming to the orphanage, Deborah’s grandmother has been evicted from the shack she was living in because she was unable to pay the rent and no one knows where she is, or if she is still alive. There has been no word or contact from her mom either. According to the laws of the country, she is adoptable.
