Cecilia's Answered Prayer

Cecilia - beautiful, sad, downcast.  I had this precious child at Camp Life 2011.  She struck me from the very beginning.  The little girls would run and play - she would not.  The other girls would smile for the camera - she would put her eyes down.  She was so thirsty to hear about a Father in Heaven who loved her.  She didn't believe it at first...but day by day I saw hope grow in her heart. 

During one on one time with her she cried and cried.  She melted into me and just grabbed on for dear life.  As she poured out her heart and told me about her life we just sat and rocked and cried together.  I just knew her Heavenly Father's heart was breaking for her.  She was 10 during the summer.  She poured out her story of being the oldest of four children, helping her mother with the younger ones, scavenging to find food.  She understood poverty, worry, disease, and death.  She carried it around her like a ball and chain.  She also understood fear....mostly that this Heavenly Father wouldn't care about her.  She wanted to believe it with all of her heart but disappointment had been a close companion in her life.

The great news is that last summer HOPE won over fear and doubt.  Precious Cecelia gave her heart to Jesus.  She prayed with tears and trembling lips.  She had a Father who loved her.  Smiles still didn't come easy but they did come.  Her eyes were still cautious but had a brightness to them they did not have before.  Hope was ignited in this beautiful girl.

She later told me that she could not afford to go to school.  She wanted to be an accountant.  She told me she was going to pray.  We prayed together.  The last day of camp she made me promise not to forget her...I have not.

Today I was in Chaisa, her "community".  (no worries, we had a Zambian man with us)  Victoria, a woman who works with the children in Chaisa brought her to me! What a great moment in my life.  She ran into my arms and we hugged and hugged.  She took me into her home and we got to meet her mother. They are very poor.  Their life is very hard. Their home is so small that I do not even know how the children and the mother sleep laying down.  It is probably 5 feet by 5 feet.  There was no food in their house.  When we sat in her house we filled it.  It is hot, dark, and musty...and feels hopeless. 

HOWEVER!!!  Family Legacy has a new school in her community.  Cecilia will be an accountant!  She told us that her favorite subjects are Math and English.  She told me she is going to work hard.  She is going to school!  A wonderful school where she will learn Math and English.  She will also be loved and cared for.  She will learn more and more about Jesus.  Her faith can grow!!! Her life has hope.  Education will enable her to break the chains of poverty.  Her faith will enable her to break the chains of hopelessness.  Her prayer has been heard.

Today was a great day!

One precious child at a time.....

Love you all.
Stephanie