So, here is the beginning of what I hope to be an extensive series of posts about my brothers and sisters in Central America.
Jennifer, Karen, and Genesis
These three are something incredibly special to me. Three sisters, the oldest, Jennifer, can't be more than 8 years old, and they are apart of the church in El Salvador. These little girls were at every service, Bible study, and church event that was held. Their parents even hosted an evening service on the street outside their house. Each night, they would arrive to the church in the truck and come bolting out to crash into our arms speaking fond words, even though, half the time I had no idea what they were saying. I love to gather them in my arms lift them up to spin them around or throw them into the air. The simplistic joy that a few simple, broken words in Spanish accompanied with a hug could bring, is something that causes me to fall before my God in joy. Their giggles live in my memory and make me smile as I remember how innocent and sincere their love is.
They would sing along to the songs, thumb through their Bible to find the passage someone was reading and pray in earnest as the congregation did. They enjoyed children's church and usually had some picture to show.
When we came back from our short time in Honduras, the joy on their faces at seeing us again almost broke my heart with joy. I never knew the heart could feel that large with happiness and love. I wanted to keep them in my embrace forever.
Jennifer is my special friend. As I would bend down to hug and hold Jennifer she would whisper sweet words in my ear. Her heart is so sweet, and being the oldest she does a great job in watching over her younger sisters. They are a triple threat, but Jennifer has mind to be responsible in some ways. I wont forget the night that we had an evening service outside their house, as Jennifer saw her father returning home from a long day of work, her eyes and smile lit up like a spark and she ran into his embrace yelling "Papa, mi Papa!" Her heart is sweet, and her mind is innocent, I pray she stays that way.
Karen is a ball of giggles. Her smile could light up a room and her laugh is contagious. She loves to make others laugh to, she lives to be the center of attention. She loved to have me take pictures of her and then giggle uncontrollably when I showed her the picture. She gave me quite the arm workout because she was the one who wanted thrown in the air the most. She doesn't understand human limits yet, but it's okay. I would have done anything to make her smile. She looks up to Jennifer and tries to exercise her own authority over her younger sister, Genesis, but is so kind in her actions that she comes off as a sweet sister.
Genesis is the rebel of the group. A silent bug mercenary with big brown eyes, you can't help but fall in love with her. She would roam at her own free will around the sanctuary during the service, picking up random bugs by their wings and wave them in your face or set them on your lap to see you freak out. Her sick smile of pleasure was too cute to be mad at so you would brush the bug off with a shiver down your spine and pick her up to blow raspberries on her cheeks. She's quite the independent child and her loyalty is fickle, but you find yourself fighting to have it because of wanting to make her smile. Her high-pitched laughter remains in my mind remembering her flinging her entire body into my arms, trusting that I would catch her and not let her fall.
Our last church service, I was sitting next to Jennifer while Genesis roamed around the sanctuary, with her current victim, a moth, in her clutches. I hadn't been feeling too well, so I decided to walk on the porch around the sanctuary for fresh air, and found myself a chair to sit in with a view through the big double doors of the entire congregation. They were singing and praying and I found myself stricken with the reality that I was going to be leaving in a day. I couldn't imagine not being with these people everyday. It was at this moment that Jennifer appeared from around the corner with my water bottle in her hands. I had told her I wasn't feeling well so she looked concerned. I thanked her for bringing me my water and pulled her into a hug. It was at this moment I started to sob into her hair. I didn't want to leave, I wasn't sure I could. She rubbed my arms affectionately and placed her hands on my face. Searching my eyes for something, I'm still not sure what, she just searched my face. I thanked her again and sent her back to her seat. That night as we were saying our goodbyes to our family, I pulled my girls into one last embrace. Jennifer again placed her hand on each side of my face and simply kept repeating "Te quiero mucho" I replied with broken "Te amo"'s as I tried not to cry uncontrollably. They got into the cab of the truck and I held their hands as the truck began to pull away. Once our hands broke contact I simply stood in the middle of the courtyard watching the truck pull away, taking away part of my heart with it.
Even though it was sad, I thank the Lord because he has placed these precious girls in a family of believers where they can grow and flourish into women for Him. I would like to thank their parents, for being faithful themselves. For realizing what they, and what their children need. I would like to thank their father for working hard for his family and making sure they are raised in the Lord.
I love them dearly, and cannot wait to see them again! I will be back, and until then I will continue to pray for them. My precious girls, I miss you.
Love Always,
Christina
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