Many say that the formative years of childhood are the basis for adult life, direction and accomplishments. There has to be an exception to that surmise, our children live without parents. There is no one to tuck them in at night, no one to read that bedtime story, no Daddy coming home with open arms to hug his little girl. That area of their life is lacking, is empty.
Some of our children were born in captivity and taken from their mothers. Some were taken into captivity with mothers but separated and learned to survive alone. Some were taken into captivity without their mothers. They have no idea what it means or feels to be loved by a mother, encouraged by a mother.
Some of our children were hidden whilst their mothers were raped. Some were drugged while their mothers raped and tortured. There is no blissful childhood, there are no precious memories to pass on to their children. Yet our kids have dreams. They are strong, determined, and know where they are going.
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it” simply does not apply to them. I would suggest that in their case, the very opposite applies, “depart from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it” Psalm 34:14. Note that this verse comes with a promise, “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.”
I believe this is just one reason why although they carry heavy baggage from their years in captivity, our children are blessed, our children experience restoration. Our children, as young as they are, have definitive dreams and will see that restoration of the years that the locusts have eaten. Joel 2:25.
Today, our focus will be on a small group of girls, all rescued from captivity in Syria, all orphans. Girls who dream, girls who are determined to move ahead, girls who have the courage to grow up and be who God made them to be.
“Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about.”
Marsha Norman
Naba
“My name is Naba, I am 15 and live in Kabarto camp. My dream is to become a lawyer so that I can defend innocent people, so that I can pursue justice, and help the poor and vulnerable in our community.
I don't know what “home” is, nor do I know what “security” is. I don't remember my home, but it means safety, security, encouragement and the future. Mine was taken from me but as a lawyer I will build a safe home for myself and help those in need to know the same safety.”
“He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of his life. He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous.”
Psalm 1:3
Vian
“My name is Vian and I am 13 years old. I live in Shariya camp. My dream is to be a tree. My dream is to have roots and be grounded, then I will be able to be a generous and loving person, productive and giving to my community.
I am very interested in the medical field and want to become a doctor and take care of those sick and in need.”
Asma
“I am Asma, 14 years old, living in Kabarto camp. I don't go to school because of being in captivity for too many years, there were difficulties with my returning to school.
I dream of being a teacher and being able to teach those who have no rights to schooling, or those like myself who lost the basic years of education. I know that I have a hard journey ahead but I will accomplish my goals.
Once I am a teacher, then I will have a home. I dream of a home, outside a camp, in peace and safety, a place of joy and calm. I would be happy to use my home to teach children in need.”
“What one loves in childhood stays in the heart forever.”
Mary Jo Putney
Jaklin
“I am Jaklin and I live with relatives and my brother in the Old Shariya village close to the stables. I have no news of my parents. We live in a borrowed house, it's not a good one, very simple and a little broken, but it is in the village and not in the camp. The air is good, and we have more security than those in the camp. We sleep at night but those in the camp are always afraid of fires breaking out and spreading when they are asleep.
I have held on to my childhood dream, it's a dream which has become stronger during my years in captivity and now as I catch up on my education. I plan to be a lawyer. There are poor people in need of representation, there are women who have no one to speak up for them, and there are innocent people who are not getting their rights. My people need a voice. In every season of life, they need someone who is patient to listen to their problems, and clever enough to solve them in a legal way. I will do that for them.”
Dieen
“I am Dleen. I am 12 and live outside the camp in the village which is much better, and healthier. I am tired of being surrounded by sick people and those who are suffering so I will become a doctor in order to help them heal and to treat my patients with dignity and respect. I will listen to my patients and give them the help that they need.”
“Little girls with dreams grow up to be women with vision.”
Unknown
Deliviya
“I am Deliviya, I am 9, and I live in the camp with my three brothers. Once I saw an Indian movie where a doctor was doing heart surgery. That caught my attention and I was very impressed. So I will be a heart surgeon.”
Hazina and Hayam
I am Hazina, and this is my sister Hayam. I am 10 and Hayam is 12. We don't have parents. Isis took them. We have no memories of them. I was taken into captivity when I was seven days old, and Hayam was just two years old. Neither of us remember anything, we can not even recall the faces of our parents. All we know is that we both have inherited the same family “mole”. That is it. We live with our uncle who is very kind to us and takes good care of us. We both go to school and we study hard and make good grades. When we have exams we do not come to the Hope Centre.
We have both decided that we will be doctors and will live and work together. We will take care of everyone who comes to us, and by being a doctor we will be able to provide a good life for ourselves."
Haen
“I am Haen. I am 11 and live with my mother outside the camp. That in itself is a dream come true, to live outside the camp.
I think I have a wonderful dream. It is to be a very talented and skilled chef. My mother cooks the most delicious food and she is teaching me. I also think that I will be able to make a good living from that one day. I dream of serving food, really yummy food to all who are hungry.”
“Joseph revealed that the dreams indicated seven years of plenty followed by seven years of severe famine.”
Genesis 41
Farah
“My name is Farah, I am 11 and live in a rented house in Shariya village. I go to school even though I missed some years when in Syria, I am the best student in Mathematics. Actually, I dream of mathematics at night and solve homework problems in my dreams. I am the most intelligent in my class. My dream is to be a Mathematics teacher and of course I will help those who find Maths hard.”
P.S. Farah is Barzan’s sister.
Hanan
“My name is Hanan. I am an orphan and my siblings raise me. My dreams died when my parents died, one after the other but when I began to go to Springs of Hope, to the stables and to the art classes I found that I was beginning to dream again.
I painted two of my dreams. I want to be an art teacher like Mr. Salam. I want to go to the Institute of Art in Duhok. When I graduate I will become a famous teacher.”
Jilan
“Hello everyone, I am Jilan, 12 years old. I live in Shariya camp. I have a dream which is not so acceptable in our society but as it is my dream, I will do all I can to prove to everyone that my dream will come true.
I am a great football player. I am always the best on the field. I intend to become a professional football player. If every part of my dream comes true, I will also play outside Iraq and become famous.
Oh and I don't dream of houses or homes because we have lived for ten years in a camp and I simply don't remember life before captivity.”
“Bad things do happen. How I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift - life itself.”
Walter Anderson
Our kids have made their choice.
They Treasure Life.
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