Esther

...And who knows whether you have not come 

to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:14

ESTHER
Yesterday, I traveled out to a remote village where people with HIV are sent to live...kind like a modern day leper colony.  The children here are at high risk and many of them have HIV themselves.  In the course of our visit, I discovered a little girl, with down syndrome. She was filthy, in clothes soiled with pee.  Her stomach was full of parasites and she was horribly scarred wit cigarette burns all over her face and body.  Her  eyes were as dark and empty as anything I have ever seen on a child.  I began to inquire about her and learned that she was forced to sleep outside, she did not speak and she had no name.  She was basically just an outcast among the outcasts in this village.
 She grabbed my hand and walked with me as we followed the team on our visit.  I prayed as fervently as I know to pray and I heard the Lord so clearly say...Her name is Esther...name her.   I grabbed our ministry leader and she got down on her knees and said in Khamai..your name is Esther.  Immediately the little girl put her hands to her face, doubled over and when she looked up at us, she was smiling...the most beautiful smile I have ever seen in my life...  I held her and sang Jesus loves you over her as she smiled and snuggled in my arms.
After some investigating, we found out that apparently her father had died of aids.   Her caretaker has aids, is quite old, and does not really care for her. The team here in Poipet is beginning discussions with her about Esther's care or lack of it. The government will not remove her from the home even though she is being abused because she has a "family" and there is no place for disabled children here in Poipet. They are usually very neglected, left to die,  or sold into the sex trade. It has been reported that there are whole brothels of handicapped children in this region of the world.
We are desperate for a strategy to rescue her so I ask that you pray!  I hope to return in a few days with the team but in the meantime...Esther needs protection.
Before we left, one of our interpreters got down on his knees and spoke her name over and over. He kept saying you are Esther and she was laughing and smiling and then she SPOKE HER NAME! I had to walk away because my heart was literally wrecked.
 The kingdom of heaven is like this.. a little girl forsaken...an outcast among outcasts..but God sees her...he knows her name...he loves her so much that he sent someone from across the entire world to find her.

The hardest thing I have ever had to do was leave her there but I know that I know she has been seen for a purpose.  God has a plan for little Esther!

Love from the road,

Julie