Heaven On Earth

Heaven on Earth

We drove into the gates of The David Center and all around us were laughing, playing children.  As we disembarked from the van they surrounded us and  graced us with their wide, gap-toothed grins.   Beautiful children, all with their own story of how they had arrived at this haven in the jungle.  

Little Sammy is a loving and sweet Down's syndrome child with a gift for stealing your heart.  He was left at the gates of the David Center when he was just a baby.  Randa and Setan Lee took him into their home to nurse him until he was old enough to go into the David Center.  

Little Mia was born to a young girl who had decided to end the pregnancy until Randa Lee had intervened and offered to take the child after she was born.  Mia is a gorgeous, intelligent child who lights up the room with her smile and sweet personality.  Randa and Pastor Setan brought her home home with them and she remains with them to this day, but she also spends a great deal of time at the David Center, with Randa.  She calls the David Center her "real home."

Precious Hope caught my attention right away.  I found her standing by herself much of the time and when I tried to engage her she shriveled into herself, cringing from my touch.  Such a small, perfect creation of God's and I wondered what story lay behind her isolation.  Later I learned that she had been born to a Mother who had lost her mind due to abuses she had suffered in Vietnam and in prison, where she gave birth to little Hope.  After Hope was born her Mother loved her, but in fits of insanity would not recognize her and would abuse her.  The David Center rescued Hope, just as they have rescued all of the children there.  It is my prayer that I will be able to visit there again, to meet a new Hope, a redeemed child with light in her eyes and a smile in her heart, just like the other children of The David Center.  It has been reported to me that she has formed a very special bond with Sammy, I hope this is a beginning of healing for her.