“She always stood by the door” – a missionary moment

Happiness came to us after both of her missionary parents were killed in northern Nigeria by religious extremists.  She was only two years old, and I gave her the name Happiness prophetically, believing the words of Isaiah 51.

Initially, she was very confused and would sleep in the afternoon but her nights were used to guard the door and watch the outside, wondering if the invaders were coming back.  Though she was so little, she had a good share of trauma as she struggled with the reality of her new environment and the possibilities of her new-found family being a mirage.

However, with persistent care and alternative visuals, such as biblical cartoons and eventually school, she adapted fairly quickly to our home for rescued children, and she ate well and drank, slept and played like any two-year-old.

There was one thing that did not change for a long time, though, and it was the standing by the door watchfully, waiting for the attack.

We played the audio Bible for her while she played and ate, and let her watch Bible stories on the TV – we intentionally saturated her with scripture.  About a year later, she gradually stopped lingering near the door and watching; her mind had been transformed by God’s Word and she was more at peace.

Please pray for the children of missionaries who are killed; the trauma is real and their needs are real.  We pray that their sacrifice for the gospel will come back to them in God’s blessings upon their lives. Many of them are with us in our mission homes across Nigeria.

-Sinmi, Compassionate Community Africa