Shakina just called me to say that the police have got a verbal statement from Risha, and once they also get a statement from Shakina, they will move in to arrest the guy. Shakina's driving to the police station as I'm writing this.
It turns out that the guy isn't at home, and as soon as he reaches home he will be taken in.
God is awesome!!! Keep prayin' guys :) Nothing is impossible with Him.
Also as an update on Risha, Shakina told me that in the past week Risha has been smiling a lot, and looks to be really happy and at peace.
Thank you all for keeping her in prayer!
Happy Easter to everyone :)
God bless
Friday 6 April 2012
Tuesday 3 April 2012
The girl who changed my life...
In my 26 years of life on this earth, I have never felt the urge to start a blog. Even now, as I'm staring at this box of white space before me, the only urge I have, is to be a voice for Risha - the girl who has changed my life in the past week. It has been exactly 7 days since she entered my life. I have never met her, nor have I spoken to her, but the love and deep compassion I feel towards her is overwhelming. It is so overwhelming that I'm prompted to share her story with you.
Risha is a precious little 10 year old student in my fiancee's (Shakina) Grade 6 class in Malaysia.Until recently, she was just another student in the class - a quiet girl, who mostly kept to herself. Last Monday morning, as I was getting ready for work, I got a call from Shakina. This was no surprise to me as 7.30am typically marked our daily "catch-up" time where we would share the highlights of both our days; our thoughts and musings on random events/ideas; and most importantly, a time when we would pray for each other. I was starting my day in Canada, and her day was almost winding to a close in Malaysia. When I answered Shakina's call on Monday, I immediately sensed hurt and a deep sadness in her voice, which was unusually down to a faint whisper.
"What's wrong darl?" I asked her, immediately sifting through recent memories of our conversation from last night, desperately trying to recall if I had said something to hurt her. I could barely hear her reply. I asked her again, slowly, "What's wrong Shakina...did I do something wrong...did something happen?"
She took a deep breath and started telling me about Risha. Risha's grades had been falling, and Shakina had sat down with her, to have a chat and find out what was wrong. Little did Shakina know that the ensuing moments would change her life, as well as mine, and everyone else who was later exposed to Risha's story. Risha began to unravel parts of what she had come to accept as her life or rather fate. As an orphan, she was adopted by an old lady (a distant relative) and the lady's son. She had told Shakina that she was trying to find her parents. She had even tried looking for them on Facebook.
I felt a tug at my heart. When innocence confronts pain, one can't help but feel deep compassion towards the person experiencing that pain.For little Risha, the innocence of her trying to find her parents (who had abandoned her as a baby) through Facebook, sent a wave of sadness into my heart. The story did not end there.
Risha went on to say that she would frequently get beaten up by the old lady's son for no apparent reason. The old lady would turn a deaf ear to her cries of pain. Late at night, the man would force Risha into his room, and order her to watch adult videos with him. She had no choice in the matter. He would later proceed to ask her - this precious and innocent 10 year old - to re-enact the disgusting frames of sexual degradation, and forcefully abuse her physically and sexually. As we found out a few days ago, she was also raped by this terrible man!
As soon as Shakina told me this I felt a surge of absolute rage within me. I failed to understand how a human could ever do something like this to a precious little child. Maybe he wasn't human? I just could not understand. My heart was torn. I desperately wanted to hurt him and make him understand the pain Risha was going through. Both Shakina and I were in tears for the deep emotional and physical scars that Risha had endured. I recall Shakina mentioning the sheer brokenness she felt as the tears were rolling down Risha's cheeks. Risha's tears were like none she had seen before - they were tears of pain; tears of a robbed innocence; and tears of a wounded heart.
We immediately decided that we would do our best to bring Risha to safety, and have since been interceding for her with our families and our dear friend Amy (who has pretty much become family for us). I believe that "God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us," (Eph 3:20), and He will protect Risha just like He protected Daniel, for she is His chosen creation, and He loves her more than anyone else could.
Shakina has been working hard with her school principal and a police officer, and we believe that Risha will be in a safe place soon.
For those reading this, please continue to uphold Risha as well as Shakina in your prayers. Our God is a good God. Please pray for Risha's healing, salvation and for everyone who is currently involved in bringing her to a safe place.
Thank you darling Risha for changing my life! You are so precious in Gods eyes.
"... Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able
to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Ephesians 6:11-13
Risha is a precious little 10 year old student in my fiancee's (Shakina) Grade 6 class in Malaysia.Until recently, she was just another student in the class - a quiet girl, who mostly kept to herself. Last Monday morning, as I was getting ready for work, I got a call from Shakina. This was no surprise to me as 7.30am typically marked our daily "catch-up" time where we would share the highlights of both our days; our thoughts and musings on random events/ideas; and most importantly, a time when we would pray for each other. I was starting my day in Canada, and her day was almost winding to a close in Malaysia. When I answered Shakina's call on Monday, I immediately sensed hurt and a deep sadness in her voice, which was unusually down to a faint whisper.
"What's wrong darl?" I asked her, immediately sifting through recent memories of our conversation from last night, desperately trying to recall if I had said something to hurt her. I could barely hear her reply. I asked her again, slowly, "What's wrong Shakina...did I do something wrong...did something happen?"
She took a deep breath and started telling me about Risha. Risha's grades had been falling, and Shakina had sat down with her, to have a chat and find out what was wrong. Little did Shakina know that the ensuing moments would change her life, as well as mine, and everyone else who was later exposed to Risha's story. Risha began to unravel parts of what she had come to accept as her life or rather fate. As an orphan, she was adopted by an old lady (a distant relative) and the lady's son. She had told Shakina that she was trying to find her parents. She had even tried looking for them on Facebook.
I felt a tug at my heart. When innocence confronts pain, one can't help but feel deep compassion towards the person experiencing that pain.For little Risha, the innocence of her trying to find her parents (who had abandoned her as a baby) through Facebook, sent a wave of sadness into my heart. The story did not end there.
Risha went on to say that she would frequently get beaten up by the old lady's son for no apparent reason. The old lady would turn a deaf ear to her cries of pain. Late at night, the man would force Risha into his room, and order her to watch adult videos with him. She had no choice in the matter. He would later proceed to ask her - this precious and innocent 10 year old - to re-enact the disgusting frames of sexual degradation, and forcefully abuse her physically and sexually. As we found out a few days ago, she was also raped by this terrible man!
As soon as Shakina told me this I felt a surge of absolute rage within me. I failed to understand how a human could ever do something like this to a precious little child. Maybe he wasn't human? I just could not understand. My heart was torn. I desperately wanted to hurt him and make him understand the pain Risha was going through. Both Shakina and I were in tears for the deep emotional and physical scars that Risha had endured. I recall Shakina mentioning the sheer brokenness she felt as the tears were rolling down Risha's cheeks. Risha's tears were like none she had seen before - they were tears of pain; tears of a robbed innocence; and tears of a wounded heart.
We immediately decided that we would do our best to bring Risha to safety, and have since been interceding for her with our families and our dear friend Amy (who has pretty much become family for us). I believe that "God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us," (Eph 3:20), and He will protect Risha just like He protected Daniel, for she is His chosen creation, and He loves her more than anyone else could.
Shakina has been working hard with her school principal and a police officer, and we believe that Risha will be in a safe place soon.
For those reading this, please continue to uphold Risha as well as Shakina in your prayers. Our God is a good God. Please pray for Risha's healing, salvation and for everyone who is currently involved in bringing her to a safe place.
Thank you darling Risha for changing my life! You are so precious in Gods eyes.
"... Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able
to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Ephesians 6:11-13
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