She’s spunky.
She’s beautiful.
She is the “leader of the pack.”
She translates for us sometimes.
She’s my favorite.
She’s 11 years old.
Meet Sara.
I love her. A LOT. I get an enormous hug from her every time I see her. She smiles all the time. She writes me encouraging notes and makes cards for me. If I did not know any better, I would believe that she and I were really sisters [too bad she’s straight-up Nepalese].
When I stop to really think about Sara, my heart breaks. She’s 11. ELEVEN. One year older than 10. She is not even a teenager yet.
Sara lives at the orphanage where we are staying this month. She is constantly taking care of the other kids here. They all look up to her. When they are not sure how to say something in English, they find Sara. When they need a new song to sing or a new game to play, they find Sara. She always comes to their rescue.
She puts on a tough front. She reminds me of Pepper from the musical Annie. She acts tough, but is really just a little girl. She wants and needs the same thing that all little girls want and need — someone to hug her. Someone to hold her. Someone to protect her. Someone to take care of her. Someone to laugh with her. Someone to love her.
She doesn’t really get that here. There is very little to no adult supervision here. Yes, the kids have a place to live, but that’s about all they have. The 15-year-olds cook the meals. The kids do all of their own laundry and cleaning. They walk themselves to school. We rarely see adults around…
Sara shouldn’t be here. She doesn’t deserve to be in an orphanage. She doesn’t deserve to be forgotten. She doesn’t deserve to be an 11-year old who has to take care of 10 other kids younger than she is. She deserves love. She deserves a childhood [please insert my watery eyes and cracking voice].
Sara calls me Suminta & says that we are sisters and best friends. I like that. I cannot imagine the day next week when I have to tell her goodbye.
BUT. I don’t want to think about that day yet. I still have today. I still get to love on her for another week or so. I still get to give her hugs and smiles and laugh with her. I still get to show her God’s amazing love.
If for no other reason, I believe that I am in Nepal to be with Sara. She’s amazing. She my fave. I just thought you should meet her as well. 🙂
