Saying Goodbye To Kati

     Going into this week, my team and I knew Thursday would be the hardest.  Thursday meant  we would say goodbye to the families at the dump. For me it meant saying goodbye to Kati. 

 

     For the last time I walked up the long dirt road with the shacks on the left side and the huge pit of garbage on the right. It was wretchedly hot today. When I walked into the little wooden pavilion, Kati was already there. She immediately assumed her usual position on my hip and started tickling Rob who was standing next to us. He tickled back. There was that laugh again. The most beautiful sound I have ever heard. 

 

     Over the last three hours, Kati and I tickled, laughed, played and took silly face photos. I gave her the photo of us I'd printed and with a note on the back. Later Kati ran off and when she finally did appear again, she had a huge bouquet of fake flowers with her. For me. She ran all the way home to get them. 

 

     For the last half hour, Rob and I talked with Rosa while Kati ate her chicken and rice. She told us how much we meant and that they would never forget us. I asked Rosa how long she had lived there. She said all her life. 

 

     When the time came to say goodbye, I gave Kati a hug and asked if I could pray for her. She closed her eyes and bowed her head. I prayed a simple prayer that God would continue to give her hope and joy and love. That he is watching her and loves her so much. When I opened my eyes her mother was crying. I immediately began to cry as well. 

 

     Even now writing this I'm starting to tear up. How could a woman I'd only spoken with a few times cry like that and say she'd never forget us? The only answer is the love of Jesus. She saw a love that brought her to tears. 

 

     Also, I think about what those flowers meant to them. They probably were the most beautiful decoration in their shanty. Will Kati ever get a real bouquet of flowers from someone who loves her? My mind wanders to her family. Her mother lived there her entire life. Will that be Kati's life as well? If I could take her home with me and give her a life outside the dump I would. Unfortunately I can't. I hope God will open more doors for me to help her. But what I can do is use the most powerful and effective tool I have to help her and that is prayer. 

 

     So here's what I ask of all you readers. Stop reading this for a minute and pray for Kati. Pray God will protect her from abuse and disease. Pray she will grow up knowing each day that there is a beautiful God who madly loves her. Pray she will never lose the light that shines from her in the midst of the darkness. 

 

     Lord I pray you protect her all of her days. Overwhelm her with your love. Give her peace and comfort when there is none. Continue to give her an outpouring of joy. God I know you love her. Please give her a life outside the dump. But more than anything I ask that I get to spend an eternity with her in heaven. I love you.

 

Amen.