Seventeen years ago today (is it possible?) I met a little girl who would change my life forever.
I was with Dick Rutgers in northern Guatemala, at a wheelchair distribution. I didn't have much of a role, but was more hanging out than anything. I walked over to a lady with a “baby” on her back. I hesitantly asked if it would be okay for me to hold the “baby.” Mom gently placed her in my arms.
This was my introduction to Lisvi Escalante Perez, and her mother Francisca. Lisvi, however, is not a baby, but a marvelous little girl of SIX who could not have weighed over fifteen pounds. As I held this precious little one in my arms, my heart sank to my feet, and tears welled in my eyes. Lisvi will forever “haunt” me. This was not some abstract, starving child in an ad, but a flesh and blood little girl God had permitted me to hold.
It was apparent that this little one needed so much more than a wheelchair. We explained to her mother that there was a malnutrition center in Antigua which could help Lisvi. Dick promised transportation for the family if they wanted to bring Lisvi be checked by the doctors there.
Mom was terrified at the idea, but said she would talk with her husband. He could not imagine having the daughter he so dearly loved taken from their home and placed so far awasy, but agreed to come with us to investigate options.
I got to spend the next three days walking with their family through this process, and getting as much cuddles in with Lisvi as I could. We learned that Lisvi was their third child born with severe cerebral palsy, and the two previous sisters had died from malnutrition.
I could not begin to understand what we were asking them to do. To us, it was just a trip to the hospital. To this family, who had never been out of their area, we are asking them to leap into the
unknown. They have never even seen a doctor (except maybe the “healers” in the
area), and how could they imagine a hospital.
As I held Lisvi, I couldn’t help but think of my almost 30
lb., two and a half year old grandson back home. As I prayed over Lisvi, I also
prayed in gratitude for Zach’s health which I too often take for granted. And,
as I struggle with the contrast between these two precious children, I had to
remind myself that God loves each of them unconditionally. His ways are surely
not my ways. .
As the contrast pierced my heart, the injustice of the disparity between the opportunities for thesse two chilren enraged me. Was Zach more worthy of a good life than this beautiful little girl only by benefit of his birth country?
While the hospital had agreed to admit her, the parents could not bear to 8 hours away from her. They deeply loved and cared for her. The next day, Dick drove them home to their village, and they would do the best they could to care for her.
On the plane ride back to the US, I pondered all I had experienced. God showed me that Lisvi did not need to meet me. I needed to meet Lisvi. I needed to willingly let my heart be touched, and wounded, and trust that God willed the best for this little one. I learned to pray, "God I want to serve you, but it hurts too much." I learned that when I pray, "God break my heart for what breaks yours," that's exactly what he does. I learned to risk letting my heart be touched, knowing it might be broken, but trusting it will heal."
A few months later, I received a call--Lisvi was now in the arms of her Heavenly Father. What I gave to Lisvi, I don't know. What she gave to me is beyond measure.
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