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Zenia

This little girl is constantly on my heart. Even now as I write this I'm biting back tears. Her name is Zenia and I met her several weeks ago when we went to the ophanage with the Sept. building team. She was shy at first, as many of the kids are, and so I played some games with her and some other kids to break the ice.
 Us playing a game I came up with. It's kind of like "Follow the leader/Simon Says, only Janna Style."

That game did the trick. After that we were inseparatable. I hugged her and hugged her until I realized that everyone was heading into the gym to watch a puppet show. So, I grabbed her hand, smiled and said let's go! We went into the gym, and sat down next to each other. I put my arm around her and we watched the puppet show.
She wanted to look at my rings!

Then something horrible happened. The boy sitting next to her on the other side looked at me (to make sure I was watching) and pointed to her and gave me the thumbs down. He emphasized it twice. Double thumbs down. Some other kids around us caught on to his message and started kicking her and pulling her hair. I intervened, saying "nyet! (NO)! several times, and they stopped. 

I wanted to throw up. It was terrible. I knew kids were bullied all the time, but it was awful to see it first hand. I needed to do something, and so I looked her in the eye and told her in Russian that she was very beautiful and that I loved her. She smiled. I remember thinking that my words weren't enough. I wanted her to have a home, a family, and people to care about her.

To be safe I told her again and again that day that she was beautiful and special and that I loved her. However, I had to say goodbye. I felt guilty as I left.

It kills me to think about what she's gone through already, and what she has to go through every day. While I'm sitting in Russian class, is she getting kicked around? Who is there every day to tell her that she is special and loved? Who is there to protect her?

The reality of it is that we live in a fallen world, and innocent children are hurt. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the problems they face--sickness, poverty, hunger, abandonment, abuse, and rape. When I'm feeling down, (and I was feeling down about Zenia), my Mom always reminds me that I can make a difference in my "sphere of influence." I can touch a few lives.

What is your sphere of influence? How can you make a difference? Please remember that there a little Zenias all over the world that need our love and protection right now! This is an urgent matter. Please pray for these precious treasures, and ask God for ways that you can help.
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