The story of five-year-old Zeneide and three-month-old Adelia follows this sadly all-too-familiar pattern. Their father abandoned the family, and their mother, due to severe mental illness, is unable to care for them. That’s when we were asked to step in.
But through their homecoming, these two little girls have brought a new awareness to me that I had as of yet not fully recognized. Over the past 11 years of developing our Sunshine House program, we have come to see benefits to our families that we never foreknew. Miracles that only God could bring about. Our children are not only being blessed by the safety and love of our Sunshine Homes Program...they are also a blessing to their house mothers as well. Our homes provide hope and a future to our children, but through Zineide and Adelia, I realized that our mothers are also coming out of a life of suffering, pain, and abandonment. Their place as Sunshine mothers gives them purpose and a reason to live. The security and love they so desperately lacked in their previous lives is now restored through the children they have accepted.
My heart shattered as I watched their biological mother place baby Adelia into the arms of her new house mother, Monica. She exhibited not a hint of remorse or sadness. It was like she was simply passing on a sack of potatoes.
For Monica, however, this moment was the fulfillment of a long-held dream. Upon our first encounter, through tear-filled, soulful eyes, she shared with me that her deepest desire as a woman had always been to have children of her own. But this desire was not to be. She lost all hope when her husband abandoned her for another woman who could give him children. Since she could not have children of her own, she spent her time with the children who lived around her, pouring her love into them. With a beaming smile, she told me that the local children loved coming to her house to play and that therefore her yard, and her heart, were always full.
When Monica arrived to take her place as a house mother in our Sunshine family, she came armed with a bag of lollipops. Our Sunshine children are always curious to greet a new mother or child. It did not take them long to show up at our new house #7 to meet Monica. She for sure won them over with her lollipops! They made sure to stop by every day!
Monica's role as a house mother in the Sunshine family has given her the opportunity to have children of her own. Even though she has lovingly mothered five girls—Marcia (18), Katia (13), Ginoca (12), Carla (11), and Yusna (10)—for the past two years, her heart still longed to nurture a baby.
Adelia is the answer to that longing.
I worried about Mama Monica at first. Adelia had never been bottle-fed and would also have to adjust to a new caregiver. Would Adelia accept a bottle? Would Adelia keep Monica awake all night? But Monica’s gentle, devoted care made the transition seamless. Adelia quickly adapted and has been a content, easy baby from her first night. Monica now beams with joy. She frequently sends me photos of a smiling baby Adelia touched up with hearts and stars. It is clear, Adelia has brought light to a place in Monica’s heart she thought would remain dark and empty.
After placing Adelia in our seventh Sunshine house, we went a short distance to big sister Zeneide’s new home...a house completed just the week before. She joined Tiara and Percina, who welcomed their new sister with open arms, showing her to her room, pajamas, and stuffed animal for her first night.
There were happy smiles and giggles all around…until it was time for us to leave. As we drove off, Zeneide chased after our car, crying and begging us not to go. Mama Gloria didn’t hesitate but moved right into action. I watched in my rearview mirror as she scooped her up and rocked her gently, holding her close.
That night, I could barely sleep thinking of her. But the next morning, I returned to find a joyful little girl who ran to hug me before dashing right back inside to play with her new sisters. Like so many children before her, Zeneide quickly sensed that she was now safe and loved. Thanks to Mama Gloria’s tenderness and love, she can finally just be a child…free to play, laugh, and grow.
In welcoming Zeneide and Adelia, we are reminded that while every child’s story may begin with sorrow, God, in His mercy, is always rewriting their chapters with hope, healing, and the promise of a brighter future. In this case, He rewrote the life story for these two little girls and for their new mothers.
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