Look!

 

Katya arrived last night -  so tired she couldn’t even walk to the van.  But, of course, I didn’t mind carrying her.  Within five minutes she had fallen asleep and barely woke up when we arrived back at our house.  Miracle of miracles, she and Piper BOTH slept until 8:30 this morning.  Finally I heard giggling upstairs and when I opened the door to Piper’s room, I found Piper and Katya  snuggling, playing with animals, and hiding under the covers.  They’ve been inseparable since.  J

  It seems that she feels safe and is having fun.  She is chattering away to the kids in Russian and they’re chattering back in English. 

Her favorite phrase today seeems to be "Smahta ria," which sounds remarkably like our oldest daughter's name.  We all thought she was calling Sara Maria as she showed her playdough creations, the Playmobil camel taking a bath, or the watermelon cut for lunch.  But this theory went out the window when she began to say this to all the children, particularly girls.  "Smahta ria" is not the word for sister, friend, or girl.  Finally, I called Dasha, one of the translators who enlightened us.  "Smahta ria" means "Look!"  

And how appropriate.  You see this is my prayer.  Even before Katya arrived, I've been praying for eyes to see into her heart, ears to hear beyond the language barrier, and arms to give her hugs from Jesus.  I'm asking God to bring light to my understanding that I may see into Katya's heart.  I'm asking for awareness to see what she has experienced in life and be clay vessel through which the healing of Jesus can flow to bind up the broken-hearted.   

Taking a child in His arms, Jesus said to them, “Whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me.”  Mark 9:36-37

"Smahta ria!  Smahta ria!" 

Katya, I'm looking.  I'm looking ....