Meet Dalina- a beautiful 5th grade girl
with a heavy heart.
She came into the Nurse’s Station today crying because
of a bad headache. After giving her some Tylenol and offering the sick bed, she
just wanted to sit across from me at my desk.
So I started asking her questions…
Dalina lives with her older brother, older sister, and
younger brother in a simple cement block home near the care center. There is no
running water and sometimes there is electricity. The head of household sibling
is 17 (I think).
She has not been to school in 4 months because the
public school won’t let her enter without shoes. When she tries to go with flip
flops, she gets turned away. She has become discouraged so hasn’t been coming
to the care center either, even though she is allowed to enter here with flip
flops. We are going to work on getting her some tennis shoes.
She’s in 5th grade and she hasn’t seen her
parents in 2 years. They live and work in Haiti and the kids have been left
here on their own. I’m guessing that the parents are hoping that their kids
will have a better life on this side of the island, but it is so sad because
many times they aren’t even coming to school for one reason or another, but
there is no adult to encourage them to come. I honestly don’t even know how
they get money to buy food. Thankfully 3 out of the 4 come to our care center
so they get a warm nutritious meal for lunch.
Dalina told me she really misses her mom and just
wishes she could see her.
I asked her what she wants to be when she grows up- she
wants to be a kindergarten teacher J I hope that dream comes true for her.
What a story. She’s just a little girl who wants her
mom. I know that Jesus is walking with her every step and I hope that one day
she will learn to trust Him as her faithful friend and Savior.
Oh, my. This is so moving...and sad. I'm glad you took the time to hear her story and to pass it along. Is there a way we can help her and her siblings get some shoes?
ReplyDeleteEmily, I love your heart of compassion and love for these children. I echo your dad...what can we do to help?
ReplyDeleteIt helps us a lot to "step into" the lives of these dear ones even for just a few moments while reading. May God give us His view of life and people, instead of the limited perspective that we get from our little corner of the world. I will start lifting up Dalina in prayer...so many things to intercede for. Thanks Em for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI read your story emily and just thought back to earlier today going to see mom and dad at asta care and how lucky I am to have Godly parents that raised me and have supported me whatever dreams I had. I will pray for this young lady, God is here using our hands ,feet and hearts to reach out to those in need.
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