A Moment's Time

In the late hours of Sunday night or the earliest moments of Monday morning, a tiny precious little baby was left outside the gate here, never to see her family's faces again. I first heard about her later on Monday and was immediately struck by how unreal and world-altering it all seemed. While I was sleeping all cozy and peaceful in my bed here in the Inn, this little baby's mother or father was giving her one last kiss, wrapping her up tight, and trudging through the darkness to our front gate. They set her down, maybe shed some final tears and stroked her tiny hands, and faded back into the night. In an instant, this little girl's life was changed forever. She became an orphan...abandoned, alone, and forsaken. What was going on in her parents' heads as they set her down on the driveway and said goodbye? Why was she left? So many questions that I'm dying to ask, but will never know the answers to.

After my tutoring session with the Baker boys and preschool class this morning, I headed straight over to the House of Blessing, where this precious little life has found a home for the past 24 hours. She will have to be registered with the p*lice and taken away to a local orphanage (since SFCV is a foster home that has to receive babies from other orphanages) within a few days' time. As I opened the door upstairs and saw her lying all curled up in a bouncy seat, my heart just absolutely broke. She was so teeny...even though she's estimated to be about 2-3 months, she looks like and weighs in as a newborn. Her fingernails and toenails were long, some with slivers of dirt underneath, and her skin was all wrinkly and soft. She had the fuzziest little head of hair that felt like goose down, a miniature little cleft lip, and the tiniest little body that got completely lost in my arms when I picked her up. She slept for the whole 45 minutes that I held and pr*yed over here, oblivious for now to how much she has lost, and the struggles that lie ahead of her as an orphan. I kissed the soft spots on her head and her sleeping eyes, whispered "wo ai ni" several times, and wrapped my finger inside her palm, trying desperately to communicate that for a moment at least she was not forgotten, but rather wanted, loved, and cherished. I begged G0d to protect her, to watch over her as she leaves for a new home soon, and to send her a family very soon. It was the most helpless feeling I've ever had...staring down at this tiny baby who has just had everything taken away from her and not being able to do anything about it.

So I just enjoyed the minutes that I was with her, drinking up her sweet little face, showing Zechariah how to gently stroke her head, and hugging her tight in my arms. I don't know what her future holds, but I know that J*sus loves her and trust Him to take care of her wherever she goes and whatever happens. I am so thankful that He gave me even a few brief moments to minister His love to her!

*Sorry that I could not post pictures, but this little one doesn't legally belong to us, so I need to protect her. Thanks for understanding!*