Once Upon a Time...

Once upon a time there lived two little girls named Marguerite and Berlinda. They were born to two families in the same country and around the same time. These two families loved their baby girls very much and dreamed of giving them the world...a world very different from their own.

One day, something terrible happened to Marguerite's mother and father and they both died. She was sent to live with an aunt, but the aunt was very very poor. One day when her aunt could no longer care for her, she lovingly took her to an orphanage where she could get some food, and hoped that a new family would come looking for her and take her home. This orphanage however was run by people that did not take care of the children. She lived there until she was six years old. People found out that the orphanage was a bad place, and closed it down. She was then sent to another orphanage where she has lived for the past 5 years. She has endured hurricanes, earthquakes, sickness, hunger and thirst, and has prayed for a family that will love her and care for her for as long as she can remember. She loves learning, caring for younger children, drawing pictures, jumping rope, singing, dancing, and the color pink. She is everything a little girl should be...thoughtful, kind, loving, and despite her very hard life her eyes are bright with hope and excitement that all her dreams will one day come true.

Berlinda was born in the beautiful countryside. There are no roads and no city lights, but you don't need them because the stars shine so brightly. There is no school in the small village and the people often have a hard time finding work and food. One day the food ran out. Berlinda's grandmother often walked her to a mission many miles away so that she could get the one meager meal they were able to offer the children each day. But they could not make it every day. As time passed, Berlinda became very weak from the lack of food. Her grandmother also became too weak to walk her to the mission. So one day, grandmother walked Berlinda to the mission for the very last time and left her there. Berlinda met other children at the mission that shared her fate and they became her new family. One day people from an orphanage in another town came to the mission. They saw how hungry and weak Berlinda and her friends were, and the children begged to be taken away to the orphanage. She was one of the lucky ones selected to go, although she had no idea where they were taking her. She is thankful because although she is still hungry at times, she is not weak and sick like she used to be. Her eyes tell the story of deep sadness and loss, yet her smile and laugh are the essence of joy. Her favorite things are things we often take for granted...eating and sleeping in a bed. But she also enjoys playing with her friends, jumping rope, singing, dancing, and the color blue. She is shy at times, but never at church service. She often raises her arms in praise to God and when she wants to be held.

These two little girls born around the same time, found their way to the same orphanage. One day there was a terrible earthquake, and many people lost their lives and homes. But God chose to spare the lives of Marguerite and Berlinda. Other people in far off places came to help. They could not help everyone, but help came to some. Far away in another land lived a family that also wanted to help. They had been praying about children like Marguerite and Berlinda for many years, and somehow pictures of these special girls made their way into this families home and hearts. The mommy and daddy went to meet the girls and they were all very happy that their prayers had been answered. They brought the girls home on a big airplane to brothers and their very own beds and they lived happily ever after.

"Once Upon a Time" phrases occur 5 times in Scripture. Usually, when we see "Once upon a time" we expect "happily ever after" to follow within a reasonable amount of time. Yet, without exception each time this phrase is used in Scripture it is to "introduce impending catastrophe or doom". Not exactly what we want to hear... but there is good news. Each of the five occasions where the "once upon a times" were associated with doom, there is still a happy ending! However, "before that happy ending is realized, much grief occurs." -(what I gleaned in a lesson from Beth Moore's "Esther"...who was also an orphan praying for a happy ending...and got one!)

Please pray for the girls and us as we experience "much grief" before our happy ending can be realized. This is a true story...all except for the very last line. Marguerite and Berlinda have not come home on the big airplane yet, and many miracles still have to happen for that moment to become a reality. We appreciate your prayers and support more than you could ever know! Please continue to pray for the mountains to move and for happy endings!