And the walls came crumbling down...

Tonny, David, Jimy and Vane... kids just being, well... kids!

I am inspired to write the next story about our precious Cedria as though its bursting from within my heart. I spoke about her a little bit in the previous post, but so many amazing things have been happening with her, I can't help but to share them with you. When she first came to us, she was so afraid of light skinned people she wouldn't come near me and kept her distance for quite some time. After watching my interactions with the others... I'm sure she was quite curious to get to know "this woman" who loves to give affection and alot of love to the others. Days would pass and she would greet me with a hand shake, but then fall back into her distance. As for Isai, well she loved him at first sight. Malaki on the other hand... she was a little cautious with! She barely spoke for the first week and we were praying for wisdom to know how to help her adjust in a good way. A beautiful 4 year old, who never smiles, never speaks, and has scars on different parts of her body from boiling water falling on her as an infant. Time. Is a valuable thing. She just needed some time.

Little by little, she has been opening up; but yesterday it's as though the walls came crumbling down. As you can imagine Malaki and Desire in the midst of 14 other children always wanting to play with their 2 little brothers who are learning to walk and talk... many times the babies get a little frustrated with all the attention and just want some space. Cedria was sitting up and Malaki, fighting off all the other children goes straight to her. He opens his arms, holds her tight and lays his head on her shoulder. Tick tock, tick tock... the staff and I are laughing hysterically in awe as Malaki is just holding her. She then lays down flat on the floor, and Mal proceed to lie face first on her laying his head on her chest. In that moment, in the stillness, in the silence... it's as though the walls of pain and being afraid came crumbling down.

Last night and today it's as though she is a completely different child, and this brings a deep joy to our hearts. It's very clear that she was abused and mistreated, and we are rejoicing to see God move in a mighty way in her life. She was playing "kitchen" with Tonny today. Ordering drinks, rice and so on... being a child as she is. Justice has come to her, mercy, love and hope are what she will be founded upon as she learns more about the one who has responded to her cries. Jesus. Her savior. A sweet, sweet time this has been. And the walls came crumbling down...