Monica

So there is a girl at the orphanage. Her name is Monica. She is 17 years old. She is precious. Some people wouldn't say so, but I know for a fact that she is a precious child of God and that she is beautiful in his sight. For this reason, among others I love her to pieces.

We met a few days ago. She came up to me and called me Blonda and asked me what was up. I told her nothing, and since I can only speak a little Romanian, we sat there in silence. She held my hand.

We have hung out a few times since then, using a translator for the things that I cannot understand. But today, we hung out and took lots of silly pictures together, played jump rope, talked to the teachers, and just walked around a bit. She continued to hold my hand. As I was leaving today, this was our conversation:

Monica: "Ma iubeste?" (Do you love me?)
Me: "DA! Te iubesc!" (YES! I love you!)
Monica: "sa nu minti" (Don't lie)
Me: "Serios, Te iubesc." (Serious, I love you)
Monica: "Sigur?" (You sure?)
Me: "DA!!!" (YES!!)

I could not say that and mean it in my own strength, but only with God's love can I love this precious girl. Even if hers is the only life I touch this trip, it is worth it. It is worth every second I spend with her. It is worth every giggle and every tear that may or may not fall. She is precious. Love is so easy for me. I feel like because I have been loved so much in my life by so many people who are important to me, that I have truly been shown how to just pour out that love. And today Monica needed that love. And today, I had it to give to her.

1 John 4:18-19 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us

Here is a picture of Monica and I from today.