life-giving.

"And the King says, 'Look!  God and His children are together again.  No more running away.  Or hiding.  No more crying or being lonely or afraid.  No more being sick or dying.  Because all those things are gone.  Yes, they're gone forever.  Everything sad has come untrue.  And see--I have wiped away every tear from every eye!'" - Jesus Storybook Bible (Revelation)

It's been just over a month since Lantu took her last breath.  It brings us so much comfort knowing that she is in heaven, made whole with new eyes and a new heart.  I can picture her running, playing, and doing what she loved to do--sing and worship Jesus!  It is a comfort that can only come from knowing Him... knowing Jesus as the One true Savior.

Visit Lantu's Memorial Page on EGCH's website

One of the most important lessons I, Megan, learned was through Argaw and Rachel's example.  They said "yes" to bringing her into their family.  They said "yes" to taking a 5 year-old girl from a rural village, who couldn't walk, could barely speak, who needed eye surgery, and who had heart problems.  They said "yes" to taking her in from her family because her parents knew that she would have a better opportunity to live a long life.  They said "yes" to a girl who because of her conditions doctors deemed a waste of time and resources.  Through their "yes" they gave Lantu the opportunity to grow and flourish into the little girl who God had made her to be.

In the almost 5 years that she was at Ebenezer Grace Children's Home (EGCH) she learned to walk and run.  She could speak 3 languages fluently (and was learning a fourth).  She grew into this kind, caring, thoughtful, smart little girl who enjoyed helping take care of the little babies at EGCH.  And most of all, she grew to know and love Jesus.

Everyone who met Lantu knew that she was special.  She had overcome so much in her short life that one could only give God the glory for what HE had done in her and through her.  I know Rachel and Argaw would never take the credit for how she turned out, but they opened themselves up to her and God.  And through that, God did abundantly above all anyone could have asked or thought (Ephesians 3v20).

This verse comes to mind:

"Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom" - Psalm 90v12 (NLT)

God values life... that's something I've learned through the kids at EGCH.  Abandoned, left for dead, should have been killed (due to tribal customs), or their families weren't able to care for them... they are here, being loved on and cared for because God has a special plan for each of their lives.  Through Lantu's life I know that more deeply than ever.

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." - Jesus (John 10v10)

Though we miss her, we know that she is in heaven.  We are comforted by, and resting in Jesus.  One of our last conversations still makes me smile:

Me: [talking to the older EGCH girls] "So while Mommy (Rachel) is away in America we'll have to do lots of fun things!"

Lantu: "So... you'll be like our step-mom??!!"  

:) ...Love that girl.