Cienna is a friend that is characterized by the saying: “When our mission house was bought, she came with the house.” The first time I met Cienna, all I heard was banging on the window and a very loud yell, “LETIII”. I opened the door and before I could say hello, she was already inside looking around for someone she recognized. She startled me by the comfort she had in our home – asking for chocolate and tea. With her strong personality, I found myself having to ask God for His guidance in how to receive her as He would like me to. Cienna is someone who has endured much of the suffering of our villa’s (neighborhood’s) culture, and the people in our villa know her for her past actions and thus are not very welcoming towards her. She moved to a different neighborhood in order to begin again, so she is better now – and sober. For her birthday, we invited her over and cooked a feast!

While we were eating, I asked her, “Cienna, are you going to be celebrating with your kids today? Any big plans?” She replied, “No big plans. I’m not sure what they are doing today, but no.” I later found out that she was never able to take care of her children and that they are in different homes now. As the lunch went on she mentioned, “Oh yes, I have one more child but he passed away at birth and we are not going to talk about him.” These comments revealed how mysterious the life of Cienna is to me. I don’t think I could begin to imagine the life she has endured. All I know is that she is better now and that she knows she is received in our home as she is.

There was a moment during the lunch that I looked over at Cienna; she was eating her chicken with a simple smile, and my heart became very tender towards this person sitting in front of me. Here, she knows she is loved. Cienna and I were sitting at the same table with an abundant feast – the Lord even provided two cakes – celebrating the life that God has given her. She is my sister in Christ, for it is Christ who receives us as we are with all that we bring, and gives us more than we could ask for.