Strangely Selfless
Junitha, from our brothel ministry, showed up to the birthing center in labor Saturday morning. Usually people come with family that help, but her situation is different. She doesn't really have a family anymore. Her mom put her in the brothel to work and once she got pregnant, her mom put her out. But Junitha never complained about her situation.
Some of the staff sent two of the orphanage girls to come find me and Ashley. But when they didn't find us, they took the responsibility to start helping Junitha get settled. Once we returned, we saw the two girls doing everything they could for her. They comforted her, they got her water, they prayed for her. Junitha's labor progressed very slowly and the nurses were incredibly worried. They didn't know if the baby would be okay because Junitha didn't even look pregnant, she was tiny. I watched as Dieumene and Fanise love on her. They even spent the night because no one came for Junitha. It's not everyday that teenage girls forgo sleep to take care of and help a girl they've never met.
Thankfully, at 6am Sunday morning, a healthy baby girl was born. She is absolutely precious and her mother is doing great. The girls stayed with her until Monday, when Junitha was finally able to go home. It was incredible to watch these girls be the face of Jesus and they didn't even know it. I know that Junitha was so thankful for them and that they made an impact in her life.
As Junitha packed up to go home, we all wondered where Junitha was headed with the baby. No one knew whether she would take the baby back to the brothel or if her mom would allow her to come home. Knowing her situation, the other brothel girls came and told her to come and bring the baby with her. As we walked to the brothel, I wondered where exactly is this precious baby going to grow up. I prayed that she wouldn't ever come to know the things that were happening around her, that she would know her circumstances don't define her. When we got to the brothel, the girls took her into a room. As I watched them arrange the room, I overheard a conversation. I listened as one girl asked another, "if Junitha stays in here, does that mean you won't use this room for business, what will you do?" The other replied that's not important right now, she needs somewhere to raise this baby. I couldn't help but think how selfless that was. I remember turning to Ashley and saying that seems "strangely selfless" to me. For a moment, they forgot their situations and recognized the greater need a friend. It was beautiful to watch them surround her with so much love.
Some of the staff sent two of the orphanage girls to come find me and Ashley. But when they didn't find us, they took the responsibility to start helping Junitha get settled. Once we returned, we saw the two girls doing everything they could for her. They comforted her, they got her water, they prayed for her. Junitha's labor progressed very slowly and the nurses were incredibly worried. They didn't know if the baby would be okay because Junitha didn't even look pregnant, she was tiny. I watched as Dieumene and Fanise love on her. They even spent the night because no one came for Junitha. It's not everyday that teenage girls forgo sleep to take care of and help a girl they've never met.
Thankfully, at 6am Sunday morning, a healthy baby girl was born. She is absolutely precious and her mother is doing great. The girls stayed with her until Monday, when Junitha was finally able to go home. It was incredible to watch these girls be the face of Jesus and they didn't even know it. I know that Junitha was so thankful for them and that they made an impact in her life.
As Junitha packed up to go home, we all wondered where Junitha was headed with the baby. No one knew whether she would take the baby back to the brothel or if her mom would allow her to come home. Knowing her situation, the other brothel girls came and told her to come and bring the baby with her. As we walked to the brothel, I wondered where exactly is this precious baby going to grow up. I prayed that she wouldn't ever come to know the things that were happening around her, that she would know her circumstances don't define her. When we got to the brothel, the girls took her into a room. As I watched them arrange the room, I overheard a conversation. I listened as one girl asked another, "if Junitha stays in here, does that mean you won't use this room for business, what will you do?" The other replied that's not important right now, she needs somewhere to raise this baby. I couldn't help but think how selfless that was. I remember turning to Ashley and saying that seems "strangely selfless" to me. For a moment, they forgot their situations and recognized the greater need a friend. It was beautiful to watch them surround her with so much love.
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