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A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to take a short-term mission trip to a Native American reservation in Arizona. There I met a fourteen-year-old- girl named Sara. During the week, I learned a lot about her and a lot from her.
Sara's Family
Like many people on the reservation, Sara's life had not been easy. She came with some other teens to the service we were holding. Every night we played games, sang songs, had a message, and then met in small groups.
Sara said so much that week that no one ever could have guessed by looking at her. She seemed beautiful and happy. Instead, she was scared.
Sara's parents were around but did every little for her.
Her father often disappeared for days, usually returning home drunk. At night, Sara often lay in bed and would hear her mom crying. Once, while looking for something with the hall closet, Sara found a box of letters her mother had written. Some threatened suicide; others just talked about how sad she was.
Sara had a brother who was almost twenty years old.
She wished he could help her, but he had been in jail for the last few years. She said he was coming home in a couple more months, but that was even scarier because she didn't know what he would be like.
Lilly, Sara's younger sister, also came to the church that week. She was two years younger than Sara and just as trapped. Sara was sure God loved her younger sister more because Sara felt Lilly was prettier and smarter.
Sara said so much that week that no one ever could have guessed by looking at her. She seemed beautiful and happy. Instead, she was scared.
Sara's parents were around but did every little for her.
Her father often disappeared for days, usually returning home drunk. At night, Sara often lay in bed and would hear her mom crying. Once, while looking for something with the hall closet, Sara found a box of letters her mother had written. Some threatened suicide; others just talked about how sad she was.
Sara had a brother who was almost twenty years old.
She wished he could help her, but he had been in jail for the last few years. She said he was coming home in a couple more months, but that was even scarier because she didn't know what he would be like.
Lilly, Sara's younger sister, also came to the church that week. She was two years younger than Sara and just as trapped. Sara was sure God loved her younger sister more because Sara felt Lilly was prettier and smarter.
An Empty Sky
But Sara's greatest fear wasn't about her mother or father or brother or sister. Often, at night, when she didn't want to listen to her mother's crying anymore, she would climb out on the roof of their home to look at the stars.
The sky in Arizona is huge, and at night the desert is cool. There are almost no light besides the stars, so they appear much brighter than they do in cities.
When Sara talked about the stars, she cried because she didn't think they were pretty. They reminded her of times when she went out on the roof to pray, but couldn't; she always felt as if she were talking to an empty sky. Sara wanted to talk to God, but when she was in so much pain she couldn't find the words.
Sara was like Job in many ways. She believed God and wanted to serve him but didn't know how, because it seemed God had abandoned her. And, as with Job, Sara's family and friends didn't offer any help. Most of the people she knew didn't believed in God or Jesus.
Few people have as many problems in their lives as Sara did. Some may have brothers and sister who stay in trouble or parents who really don't care what their children do. Some may know only one person who believes in God or may not have a church in their community. But few have all these problems together.
But Sara persevered. Even when she didn't feel as if anyone was listening or she couldn't pray because she was too upset, she looked for God. She knew she was there, even if she couldn't see or hear him. The idea that one day he would answer her helped her keep trying.
On the last night of the trip. No one really wanted to leave because we all knew that if ever did see each other again, it would be a long time. But Sara said one thing before she left--it's remained with me since.
"I prayed last night," she said. "Nobody answered, but I'll keep trying."
-by Abby ConleyThe sky in Arizona is huge, and at night the desert is cool. There are almost no light besides the stars, so they appear much brighter than they do in cities.
When Sara talked about the stars, she cried because she didn't think they were pretty. They reminded her of times when she went out on the roof to pray, but couldn't; she always felt as if she were talking to an empty sky. Sara wanted to talk to God, but when she was in so much pain she couldn't find the words.
Sara was like Job in many ways. She believed God and wanted to serve him but didn't know how, because it seemed God had abandoned her. And, as with Job, Sara's family and friends didn't offer any help. Most of the people she knew didn't believed in God or Jesus.
Few people have as many problems in their lives as Sara did. Some may have brothers and sister who stay in trouble or parents who really don't care what their children do. Some may know only one person who believes in God or may not have a church in their community. But few have all these problems together.
But Sara persevered. Even when she didn't feel as if anyone was listening or she couldn't pray because she was too upset, she looked for God. She knew she was there, even if she couldn't see or hear him. The idea that one day he would answer her helped her keep trying.
On the last night of the trip. No one really wanted to leave because we all knew that if ever did see each other again, it would be a long time. But Sara said one thing before she left--it's remained with me since.
"I prayed last night," she said. "Nobody answered, but I'll keep trying."
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