Working closely with the girls at Shadow of His Wings and hearing their horror stories made it difficult to find peace. I feel surrounded by pain.
A 13-year-old, Lydia, suffered abuses that no little girl should endure. Damaged and not having a normal bowel movement caused torment. The doctor said she required surgery. We made plans for that to happen, and I would be by her side.
The report on Lydia didn’t say who abused her. She did say the pastor was one of them. That tore into me that these children could not trust a person who claimed to be a man of God. There didn’t seem to be many safe places for these children. This is one of the reasons we started Shadow as a refuge for them.
The surgery went well, and I stayed with Lydia in the hospital until the next night. House parents from the Home came to relieve me for the night. The day after this, Lydia’s doctor released her. Joanne and I made plans for her to stay with me while she healed. This hyper child needed reminding to stay still for healing. Thank the Lord for TV.
One night, Lydia shared a concern. “Mama Carroll, I want to stay here in Shadow, but I’m worried about my sister.”
“What do you think might happen to her?”
“I’m afraid the same thing that happened to me will happen to her, and there won’t be anybody to help her.”
Her words were cries for help. “Lydia, we need to be in prayer for her, and I will talk to our social worker to see what they can do to help her.”
Lydia loved taking a shower with warm water. Most Guatemalans have cold water because they couldn’t afford a showerhead that warms the water. After she finished, I took my turn only to find out that she had used all the water. Oh well, I would wait. What little enjoyment she has in life is important.
Gerber and Joanne came for a visit and brought Lydia her homework. She completed everything quickly. As we visited, she surprised me by saying she wanted to be a forensic doctor.
“Oh my chica mia. Why are you thinking about going into forensics?”
“I heard the doctors talking about justice when someone had been seriously injured or killed. I found it interesting. I would like to see justice for what was done to me and others.”
She could set aside all the pain and abuse to think of a future to help others.
” I want that too, Lydia. Maybe the Lord put that desire in your heart. We can surely pray about it.”
Lydia’s walking improved with only a slight leaning toward the side with the stitches, so I took her back to the Home. I knew a time would come when the court would send her somewhere else. I continued to pray for the Lord to provide a refuge for her wherever she went. Maybe one day we could take a girl to the forensic doctor, and it would be Dr. Lydia.