February 22, 2012; 7:05pm (day 1366)
FINALLY! I had given
up guessing. I was getting tired of even
answering the well intentioned inquires.
Everyone wanted to know what I wanted desperately to know. The courts kept saying, maybe today, maybe
tomorrow, maybe next week. We had our
hopes raised numerous times, but no Alisson Teresa. Last week, the courts called us in to
talk. Maybe today, we hoped and prayed
as we drove to the courts in SPS, but in the end, no Ali. Yesterday, a good friend of ours and FH
asked, “do you think you will get Alisson this week?” I do not know; all we need is a
signature. When we went to the courts last
week, we offered to bring Alisson here until the paper was signed but no Ali.
This Friday a major construction team will hit the ground
running here. They always do, so today;
we loaded up the van and headed into SPS for groceries and supplies. On the way, Hector calls Teresa, and just
like that our day changed for the better.
Hector said that we needed to go to the courts to pick up the signed
document, and then go to Nueva Esperanza to pick up Alisson Teresa. We hurriedly finished our shopping, picked up
Hector’s wife Maria and headed to the courts.
With papers in hand, we headed to Nueva Esperanza. There we had more papers to sign.
While Maria and I took care of the legalities, I looked
around and Teresa and Dale (staying with us at FH for a couple of weeks doing a
variety of jobs) were nowhere to be found.
A few minutes later, she showed up with Alisson Teresa in her arms. What a sight to beyond! While we completed the paperwork, Teresa
swayed back and forth with Ali Teresa. I could not help but thinking that even
though her life (her short little life) had been so terrible, little Ali had at
this moment no idea how much she was already loved.
Alisson Teresa is a year and half old (maybe). No one knows.
She was found abandoned on the street in December. Alisson is the name that the director of
Nueva Esperanza gave her, and Alisson Teresa is the name that Hector filed with
the courts a month ago. He was with us
the first time we saw her. He was there and
saw the look on Teresa’s face as she gently picked up Alisson for the first
time. That day Hector said, “Her name
will be Alisson Teresa!”
As Teresa swayed, you could see that Ali was tired, but she
would not go to sleep. Even in the van
most of the way to FH, she would not go to sleep. I wondered, was she afraid to go to
sleep? Was she afraid that if she did go
to sleep that we might leave her all alone on the streets like her father? She did finally succumb to sleep. She will soon know that she never again has
to wonder about being loved or abandoned!
She is, and she never will be again!
When we pulled up to the team house, Pastor Miguel, Saul and
Bessie were out front of Saul’s place.
We of course introduced Ali to them, and then, we had an impromptu prayer
meeting, as we laid our hands on Ali, and Saul thanked God for sending her to
us and asked God to bless her life! Wow,
what a moment.
After gathering up some things, we headed off to cottage 9
(Ali’s new home). All the children
crowded around the door to see her, and to love her with the love they have
found here at FH. She was a bit
hesitant, so only the girls from cottage 9 and the house parents were
inside. I began to wonder if Teresa was
going to leave her down there. We
started for the door several times only to stop and Teresa to love on her some more.
I look at Ali Teresa and many thoughts come to mind…why did
it take so long to get her here; she is a darling; she is so loved and
cherished already; and yes, she has such sad eyes. You can see it, but soon (very soon) through
the love of Christ those sad eyes will sparkle.
We went for supplies, but came home with the best
surprise. Okay, we need lots of prayer for Alisson
Teresa. We also need 14 sponsors. Send this link out. Talk to your SS class. Share her story with your youth group and
your friends. Get the word out. Lets get this done. Lets love little Ali and lets take care of
her. Who’s with me?
God, you have blessed us with another precious soul. We do not know what plans that you have for
her, but we believe that you are going to do great things in her life and
through her life. Call for your servants
that they will give their prayers and their money that Ali may grow up in the
love of your Son, Jesus.
Rodney
PS. Don’t be overly shocked, but we may have more introductions for you next week.
