27 February 2008

Post 33:  Broken Hearts -- WARNING!!  This Blog is Rated PG-17

“Life is like a Litmus Lozenge, the sweet and the sad are mixed together, and it's hard to separate them out.” This is a quote from the movie, “Because of Winn Dixie.” Seems quite fitting for an introduction to this particular blog. We've witnessed so much of the sweetness of God, here in Malta, and yet, we are also witnessing some serious sadness.

It's taken me quite a few days to get to where I could even sit down and write about this. I am so grieved, and sick at heart, I just haven't known how to put it into words, or make any sense of it. I need to warn you now, that children should not be reading this particular blog. The story is just too horrifying for young minds to handle; it's really too much for me to handle.

Wednesday morning, Tara text messaged us asking if she could visit. We said, yes, of course, and she came by a little after 10. While the kids played card games, Tara shared with me some very disturbing news.

Two weeks ago, when I first went with Tara to the River of Love Church, I briefly met a young 15 year-old girl, Nikki, and her mother. Apparently, the mother had been there before, but not the daughter. At the end of the service, the pastor asked any newcomers to come forward for prayer, so I found myself standing next to Nikki. The pastor prayed for Nikki, then he prayed for me, and after the service, I was introduced to them.

Apparently, Nikki's mom had been to the church before and was trying to turn her life around. She'd been dealing with, among other things, drug addiction. Not sure what Nikki's story is, but she obviously had seen a lot at her young age, and I can only assume her mother asked her to come to the church with the hope that they'd begin to experience some healing from the hurts, habits and hang-ups that were bringing them down.

Well, this morning, Tara shared that yesterday, Nikki's mother was murdered, and she was pretty sure Nikki was involved. The difficult thing, especially, for Tara, is that the pastor asked her to look after Nikki; give her a call, and follow up with her. Tara, being so young herself, at 22, is simply in no position to take on that sort of responsibility. Yet, she feels horrible about this, and wishes she could have done something. I've been grieved and heart-broken for Nikki, her nine year-old sister, 20 year-old brother, and everyone surrounding this family, including Tara.

It's beginning to seem like God has placed us in Malta for one specific purpose, and that is to encourage and stand beside Tara as she faces this incredibly difficult time in her life. She's been through so much, and it's been so easy for us to open our hearts to her. I remember now, a few blogs back, saying that we could only hope we'd be a blessing to someone here, and it's beginning to look like God is answering that prayer.

Nikki has been moved to a psychiatric hospital for now. This has got to be a living nightmare for her, and we can only hope she wasn't physically involved in the murder. They have a 31 year-old man in custody as well.

I don't know why I feel such a burden for this young girl, but I do, and Tara has asked me to take her to see Nikki, so perhaps, God-willing, we'll get to do that. I am sure Nikki needs some compassion right now.

Would you please be praying for Nikki, her family, and for Tara? Pray also that Dave and I would know how to encourage and support Tara through this, and that, if possible, we could reach out to Nikki as well. Thank you! My apologies for posting such a depressing blog, but please know we're grateful to you for backing us up in prayer!

 Send us an email about this post!  dgibbs at uwsp dot edu  or  dedegibbs at gmail dot com