(PC: Haylee Butler)
Today we encouraged and prayed for families in a nearby village. We had been visiting during the hottest part of the day (and recently learned April is the hottest month in Cote d’Ivoire). By the time we left our final family, we were ready to collapse in our tents and not move until the end of the race. Instead of going home the pastor took us to a local church and told us to wait. We’re used to plans changing, so we accepted the postponement of nap time and melted into chairs to wait for whatever the pastor had planned.
The church leaders gathered in a corner of the church and left us alone, so I closed my eyes for a few minutes. I tried to imagine a breeze or that I was sitting on the shore of Lake Michigan in July.
I was stirred from my thoughts by a church leader telling us he wanted to share a testimony. I opened my eyes and saw an older woman holding a baby. For the first time in my life wanted nothing more than to hold the tiny child (for those of you who know me well, feel free to say I told you so).
The pastor had been walking around the village last year and came across this baby whose mother died. There was no family nearby to take care of the baby, so he took her and began caring for her. A woman in the church, the children’s leader, decided to take in the child as her daughter.
“Her name is Charisma” our translator told us.
My heart melted. “Can I hold her?”
Her mother smiled and immediately set Charisma in my lap.
As I held her, she contentedly smiled to herself and played with my hands. Her tiny hands fit around one of my fingers and I swear to you my heart was going to burst. She even put my fingers in her mouth, spit and all, and my only thought was that I hoped her gums didn’t hurt when she started teething (I think this is what my mom and sister would call progress).
I had no idea what was happening in the rest of the room, but lifted my head long enough to ask if we could pray for her. As I prayed the sound of her giggles filled the room. When we were done, I looked down at her and she smiled at me.
The Lord has blessed Charisma with a spirit of joy. It’s already evident as a baby.
A moment later her mom walked out of the room. Charisma whimpered for a second, then looked me in the eyes, smiled and rested her head on my chest. Again with the heart melting. What on earth is happening to me.
When we were leaving, her aunt reached out to take her back. Charisma simply turned to bury her head in my chest and everyone laughed in surprise. I swear to you I could have quit the race and taken her home then and there.
Thankfully, she has a family who will love her and raise her in the gifts God has given.
Friends, I sincerely wish the local church in the United States had this mentality. Seeing children in the community in need and taking it upon themselves to care for them.
This child who I’m convinced taught me a different love than I’ve ever known almost had no future. The Lord is going to do amazing things through her. He has a future planned for her and her joy is going to speak volumes about his love.
This is possible because the Lord sent for her a redeemer.
I am going to make a bold challenge to everyone reading this. Love the children in your community who need it most. I don’t care how you do it, but love can change everything for a child.
Become a Big Brother or Big Sister. Become a mentor. Volunteer at your local Boys and Girls Club. Become a tutor. Read to children undergoing chemotherapy. Look into becoming a foster parent. Adopt.
When you do, share with me how it’s going- I would love to support you in your adventures.
I hope you know today how loved you are by me, Jesus, and the village who raised you.
