Beloved, last night was a precious gift from Jesus. We went as a family to hear a large crusade which was in town this week. All the older children wanted to go and I knew in my spirit it would likely be mostly religious hype, so I wanted us to go together in order to disciple them through it. The American preacher just talked about random bible verses and quoted how it was the biggest day for the gospel- their TV show was in 150 countries and Billy Graham spoke to 1 billion people before he died so Jesus is coming soon, can I get an amen. But there was little to no discernable love or concern for the people and he seemed to talk down or AT everyone- instead sharing with them something that would feed their spirits. But he was not the reason we were there. Susan was. She was a treasure hidden in a field Jesus gave everything for. She was the very picture of suffering- there was no smile, no laugh, almost no clothes on her little 10 year old body… her shoes falling apart. I greeted her and I looked in her eyes and I saw her on a stage shining with light preaching to thousands. Like a moth to flame she refused to leave my side all night. I put my arm around her and she just came as close as she could without outright hugging me. I could feel God’s Presence flowing out of my arm as it surrounded her. I was given glimpses of what she had been through and Jesus told me to ask her where she stayed.
When it was time to go she trailed us behind and tried to climb in our truck. Bits and pieces at a time amidst deafeningly loud off-key music and a yelling sermon her story came out- father is dead, mom is there but staying with an auntie. But there was no life in her eyes. We left her behind. She had a home-sort of. But my heart had been captured and stayed with her. About 5 min after arriving home I grabbed Mama Eudita (who is up for sainthood for sticking with me in being my faithful accomplice on such endeavors) and we went on foot back to the meeting grounds as night was coming. We both were silently praying the same prayer-that Jesus would bring us Susan and let us find her, if we were to help her. We scoured the crowd of about 1000 dodging in and out for almost 10 minutes in fading light before we spotted a lone little girl in rags.
We went up to her and asked her to take us to her home- a 20 min walk that wound through areas of town no little girl should be going alone led us to the lodge she stayed at. It was filled with women who according to Mama Eudita were “there for the men”. We found out more of her story and met her mom, who seems very happy to have her out of harm’s way with us. It is obvious she is being treated like slave labor to earn her keep- all of the immediate children of the sister in charge look like cover children for magazines, perfectly dressed, fat and happy. She was the image of rejection, of mourning ordered around like a servant even when we were there. But last night all that changed. She was found and today she was welcomed into our family.
It was this vivid contrast and I felt the heart of Jesus bursting with joy that his treasure was found in a field, in a place where the preaching was about numbers and tv credits as the suffering silently looked on. I told our kids we were going to go and sing and dance and just LOVE people. Tell them stories of our Jesus and His love for them. We wanted to bring them a message that would feed them with fresh bread from heaven. They were elated and they are seeing the difference. We spoke last night after returning home as I nursed near blisters on my foot from shoes I did not plan to go walking 2 miles in.
Lots of dancing but mama they didn’t really worship and they didn’t talk about Jesus like you do. We want to worship Him and we want to love people like Jesus does.
Susan would be sitting with me now but our girls have whisked her off to play- maybe for the first time in years. She was earning her keep by washing dishes in the bar of the lodge. Her mom homeless and alcoholic… father dead… but now she is found and loved and has a home. Jesus is so good to us! She gave her life to Him about 10 minutes after she moved in. She had heard His name but she never heard about His love before and did not know who He was. What an honor from Him to get to make the introduction! She is the first of our bar children. There are a whole generation of kids here hidden away in bars working like servants to earn the right to stay there, even with relatives.
Thank you for praying for us- she is living proof of the love of Jesus who leaves the 99 (or the 84) in search of the one.
Love in Jesus, Michele
We just took in our 84th child today—I think I have a penchant for prophetic babies. Every single one of our littlest ones have been a message of God’s heart to me. From our first Immanuel (that God is with us) to Vicki Joy (being victorious through Joy) to each one we have gotten to name and call forth their destinies. 
