“What time is it?” My sister asked me. “9:11” I replied. “Really? I have been seeing 9:11 everywhere!” We both started seeing these numbers together everywhere and couldn’t figure out why.
“Lord, we lift Tiffany up to You and put her in Your hands. I know You are going to use her to do amazing things for You over this next year. Please keep her safe and bring her back to us at the end of the year,” one of the house parents prayed as I sat in the center of the living room surrounded by 15 little girls. Every third Friday, I have been going with a group of people who love kids to the children’s home to pour into these children. Ages ranging from 7 – 18, these girls just want to be loved and wanted. We have had the privilege of baking with them, making crowns with them, painting nails with them, and playing twister until we buckle under the contortions. This night was a special night. It was my last night there before leaving for a year to go on the World Race. I finally got to do a project with them that I had been wanting to do since day one. We made prayer box necklaces. Each girl got to pick out their own charm to hold their prayer and then we made the necklaces. There were many girls there, but there were two special girls who arrived late and would have to make their necklaces later.
Several months before… “God can be your best friend and He will never leave you no matter what,” Bambi taught all of the girls as they attentively listened to her every word one Friday night. Ring ring! The door bell rings as someone arrives to the girls cottage. Seconds later two beautiful little girls with blonde locks enter the room with tears flowing and bodies shaking. One girl climbed on my lap and I held her. She just cried.
These same two little girls enter the cottage after we had completed making the necklaces. I told them both I was getting ready to leave for a year and would not see them for awhile. The older of the two sisters hugged me and started crying. For the next hour I held her and encouraged her in the Lord letting her know He could be there for her. “Do you have a relationship with Jesus?” I asked her. “No,” she replied. “He loves you just as much as He loves me. Do you want to know Him?” Sniffle sniffle. “Yes,” she replied. We prayed. It was that simple. When God is the one working, He will open the doors. All I have to do is be willing to listen. “Now, the same Holy Spirit that is in me is in you! When I can’t hold you, He can,” I encouraged her. Off to bed she went. I talked to the house parent before leaving. As I sat in the office, I turned around to look at the board behind me with all of the girls names written on it.
Alice – 11
Mary – 9
Their ages are 9 and 11. Shortly after leaving, I called my sister to let her know what happened. She was so moved by the story of these two little girls that she wants our family to be in the lives of these two girls while I am gone. Now, in my stead, both my parents and my sisters are going to start going to the children’s home to love on these children and show them that they are wanted.
Right before leaving the children’s home my last time, I made my own prayer box necklace that has a heart charm. I debated, but couldn’t decide what verse to put in it. “Take me with you!” the girls said. “I’m sorry guys, but you can’t come with me,” I replied. “Actually, maybe there is a way you can come with me!” I quickly scrambled to find a small piece of paper to write on. I passed it around and had each of the girls write their names on the paper. “Write us a post card in each country!” they all exclaimed. “I definitely will.”
God is calling us to be a vessel for Him. Has anyone been dialing 911 and waiting for you?
