Anna was one of Jonas's volunteers at GLA, and I feel like she was a mother to him when I could not be there. She LOVED the "hard" kids and the unloved... Any child that had challenges, she wanted to work with them! God has given her such compassion for "the least of these"!
Anna left GLA in June, and she had to leave behind a very special girl. This little angel's name was Berlancia. Anna was Berlancia's "mommy" while she was there for 9 months. Anna would bring her down to eat with her, and spend so much extra time with this little girl.
See, Berlancia has had to fight being HIV + her whole life. I am not sure exactly how old she was, but I don't think she was quite 2 yet??? Well, friday sometime, Berlancia lost her battle with HIV. She went to be with Jesus that day. I know that Jesus knelt down and opened his arms up to this sweet girl. I can almost hear him say, "Come and let your "Daddy" hold you and keep you safe, warm, and free from pain FOREVER!" Her little body does not have to fight any longer. What an impact her little life had on so many people for the little time she was here on earth... I know for sure that Anna will never be the same, after knowing and loving Berlancia! Knowing that she is in Heaven is so comforting, but it does not help the sorrow and grief for those that loved her here on earth.
Please pray for the staff at GLA: I can't imagine the grief that they feel when they lose a baby! Pray for Anna: That God would give her a "peace that transcends all understanding"!
Here is just a small glimpse of Berlancia. I will remember her always...
These photos were taken the night before we left Haiti. It was just the 4 of us up on the balcony. I wanted Anna to have some more time with Jonas before we left the next morning. Berlancia was ALWAYS with Anna, so she was up with us too! Anna had given her a blue lolly pop, and she LOVED IT!!!!!!!!
ANNA, I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!
5 comments:
we almost requested to be her parents...to hear of her death....i am not sure whether to be at peace or devasted but i am happy in my soul that she is with jesus now.....thanks for sharing a bit of her with us....
keri
How devestating. When I read about Peterson's reaction to his sister's bite, my heart just broke because he has experienced death in ways I can't imagine and that was probably a real concern to him. These children go through so much, so early.
Praying that Anna and the rest of the staff have a peace that only God can give.
Blessings,
Beth
no, no, no....my first trip to gla in 06 i fell in love with berlancia...she was my baby...so teeny tiny at the time. i was so happy when i met anna and knew that she was spending so much time with her. this breaks my heart...:(
Wow, we also considered Berlancia and have been praying for her to find the right family. I guess she did, just not in the way I had been thinking. It's heartening to know she was loved and had touched several people's lives.
Our family was committed to Berlancia and expecting our official referral this week. I am blessed to read of so many others who loved her. Thank you, Anna, for being her mommy while you were at GLA. We were praying for Berlancia to have a home and now she has a bigger and better home than we could have ever provided. I am immeasurably sad.
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