Finding Donzula in a sea of pain

6.25.07

Chris Telfer

writes from Swaziland:

Three weeks ago while we were finishing up our time in Dondo, Mozambique I opened up an email from my friend Cassie Morgan. She was finishing up her time in Swaziland, Africa and was about to head back to the States. She shared what the Lord had been doing in her heart and how he had broken her for a little orphan girl named Donzula.

It just so happened that my team was going to be in Swaziland in a few days, and although I would not be able to see her, she invited me to share a piece of the Lord’s heart with her. In the email Cassie explained she had found this little girl who needed Love. When Cassie met Donzula, she found her living in a ditch, bleeding in places where she should not be bleeding, completely orphaned. She had been caring for little Donzula for a while now and, now that she was leaving, she wanted me to find this little orphan and care for her. Something in me was touched and I was determined to find her.

Praying as I closed the email, thinking our time in Swaziland would be short, I said, “If you want this Lord, then make it happen.” Within three days of our debrief we were told for the next five weeks to find our own ministry and walk by faith. The Lord had now given us the time and freedom to find her. Since then we have talked to a bunch of different people, found a place to stay about five minutes from the community we think she was at and are ready to find the Lord’s child. I love how our God searches us out one by one and captures our hearts; how he loving takes us into his hand, looks us in the eyes and breathes life.

After three weeks of asking people, and three days out in the bush, I showed her picture to a go-go, and she said, “I know where she is.” One of the local pastors took our team from homestead to homestead, searching desperately for this child of God.

As we were showing her picture, a young boy just took off running. I watched him as he ran over the hill and then disappeared. Five minutes later, out in the distance, I saw him running towards us with someone on his back; my heart started beating, my spirit started singing, and I knew this little girl was our little girl.

7.16.07

Erin McKenna picks up where Telfer left off:

In the past two weeks my heart has fallen in love with a little girl named Donzula. I don’t know how the Lord set my team up to find her in a country full of orphans. I do know that the Lord has taken precise measures to be certain that her story and mine are intricately woven together in a way that maximizes His glory and reminds me that He is concerned with every detail of my life…no matter how great or how small.

This precious girl has completely stolen my heart. I spent several days in tears before the Lord, unable to understand why He would allow my heart to break so much for this little girl and not allow me to take her home with me. I was like a kid begging her daddy for a puppy. It hurt me to think that when I left her that she might not be held and loved. That she might not know safety…I was torn.

So desperately I wanted something to change, and not just my prayers. I wanted to physically see the needs of this little girl met. I wanted to meet them. I wanted heaven to be torn in the same way that my heart was – even more so. In order that the complete measure of the fullness of Christ would be released over this girl and over this country.

I’m ready for my Christianity to become more than just noble intentions and hopes of changing the world.

I want more than just a broken heart for the lost, the orphan, and the widow. I understand at a deeper level what it means to hate evil; to hate how sin has distorted this world and how things truly aren’t as they should be. I desire so strongly to see the Lord restore that which has been marred by the ugliness of sin.

Yesterday my heart found peace. Running up to Donzi’s house, my sweet little girl came flying at me and wrapped her arms around my neck as I swung her into my arms. She smiled shyly as she whispered to me, “I love you so much!” We went back in forth in an “I love you so much!” battle before my tears spilled over in joy.

She doesn’t speak much English. She doesn’t understand the prayers I pray over her while we spin in the fields worshiping the Lord until we can’t walk straight. She won’t know how deeply my heart longs to see her rise up and change this nation. She can’t understand how much her smile has taught me or how much it means to me when she puts her head on my shoulder and rests with me. I can’t understand how much more the Father’s heart loves her and longs for her. My heart loves her so much!

One child. One Savior. Only grace, changing everything.

Chris Telfer

and

Erin McKenna

have been traveling the world doing ministry with The World Race since January. Chris is from Colorado and likes to play Frisbee Golf. Read his blog here.
Erin enjoys reading, running, making cookies, going on family vacations, taking Sunday afternoon naps, and quick-witted humor. Read her blog here.

Read more stories of Donzula below:

When Brokenness Changes Your World

One Out of Millions
Time to Say Goodbye
Why we do, what we do