Our God is the God who created the heavens and the earth, right? He is the God with no beginning and no end, right? He is the King of Kings, right? He loved the world so much that he sent his only son to die on the cross for us, right? AND OUR GOD .. cares about the details too... he cares about our birthdays!!
So I have a story to tell you, and it is not about my birthday, that will be the next blog!!! My story is also an update on Rafaela (last blog). Helen (my co-worker) and I who have been involved with working with Rafaela, we like to make contact with her about once a week or so. There was a few weeks that went by and we were seeing her about 3 or more times a week, this was when we were really hopeful about her desire to go to a rehab. Then she disappeared. More than two weeks went by and we didn't make contact with her, and not for the lack of trying, we were searching most days.
We had nearly given up hope on finding her again, especially after hearing there were a few drug dealers looking for her because of debt to them and so we assumed she had gone into hiding. Our spirits were low. Then one day... after a confusing morning and a number of events that, looking back, were specifically designed to happen to make the timing just right... I was out looking for another street girl, I saw her! I actually saw Rafaela. I was super excited.
I invited her for lunch at our house. She agreed! I can't describe the bubble of excitment, the thankfulness to God, the surprise at how God works, why are we always surprised when God works?!
On the way back on the bus to my house (I live and work in the same house) I found out that the next day was her birthday! I had bumped into her the day before her birthday. Then the fear set in... would she stay at our house until the next day? If she left would she return? Would we lose her again? Deep down I had hope that God would work it out. One of my significant conversations with Rafaela had been about her birthday. We talked about previous birthdays that had been spent alone, and how his coming birthday she had me and Helen who wanted to spend it with her. And now here she was the day before her birthday, in our house. But she is a heavy drug user, would she last 24 hours?
God shows us he is greater than what we can imagine: 30 hours with Rafaela....
To cut a long story short. She stayed for 30 hours with us, most of which she slept. After she had had lunch, she took a shower and then went to sleep... she slept, and slept and slept, until the following morning at 8am after only waking up once at 2am to use the bathroom, and eat some bread. That's over 18 hours of sleep!!
We were so excited to spent her 19th birthday with her (it worked out perfect too, that this day was a national holiday so we were scheduled to be off and therefore had no 'work schedule'). We got up and had a special birthday breakfast with her. Then we painted nails, watched TV and then together made lunch. In the afternoon she washed her clothes, took a shower (we always give new clothes out to kids/adults that come to our house for a shower) and then she slept again. When she woke up she ate and we watched a film and then she started saying she was going to leave.
Just before she left we brought her into the kitchen and sang happy birthday to her, Helen (my co-worker) had made a cake the night before, hopeful she would stay. As we sang happy birthday to her, she was overwhelmed and began to cry, so did we. God is so awesome that he cares so much for Rafaela that he set it all up that she would arrive and spend sufficient time at our house and be able to spend a really special day. We had cake and coffee and then gave her a present. We talked with her about how it was God set all this up and that we love her because God loved her first. We prayed with her and then she left, and left us crying. God is so amazing, he blows my mind at how much he cares for each and everyone of us.
Rafaela is still living on the streets, but each week we can see little changes in her and we have hope that when the timing is just right, she will come of the streets and into a rehab and then she will move back home and help to take care of her 3 year old daughter. But please do not give up praying for her, and now also for another baby that is growing inside her. Pray for patience and trust in God. Thankyou
