Tasha and Kelly

Note: this bog was originally written on 11/18/05

A few years ago, I worked with some amazing young people from my school in a summer program called Nine-30-One. We worked with youth from North Tulsa, an area that has struggled for decades. The kids in the program were beautiful! I loved them. We would meet with them for prayer and devos every morning, but would also take them out for community service/servanthood-type activities. Of course we would do fun kid (and frankly grown-up) activities like ice cream and dollar movies. I get tears in my eyes whenever I remember the kids and their vivacious spirits. Two of the young girls, however, I will never forget.

Their names are Natasha and Kelly; outgoing girls with unspoiled hearts. I loved those girls so much! I remember the first time I met them. It was at a Saturday outreach. I was in the gym of the Tulsa Dream Center and a friend introduced me to them. Before the end of the day, Tasha was holding my hand and hugging me. Seeing her sister had no hesitations, Kelly instantly did the same. So much love for me; a stranger. It melted my heart.

I had a fun summer with the girls. Every once in awhile I would keep them after church. We would watch girl movies and grab lunch. They loved to laugh. They loved to use my phone. They would exclaim, "Let's call Mike! PLEASE! Or Paola!!" We would call the other leaders and they would beam. Honestly, their faces would glow. The drive back to their home always resulted in serious talks. Home life for Tasha and Kelly wasn't easy. Their mom and step-dad weren't working; their step-dad was sick. I would walk the kids inside their home and shudder. It was always filthy with bugs running everywhere. Very rarely was there food in the fridge. The girls, while more quiet, never seemed angry or ungrateful. This was just their lives. They were used to it. Rather, they would just grab their kitten and play with her while I chit-chatted with their parents.

That fall, the family was kicked out of their home for not paying rent. They had no where to go. With the help of some people, they were able to hole up in a hotel room that wasn't much better then their home. Four people in a small room all day. They never knew if they'd have enough money to stay another night. The girls weren't in school, but Tasha always talked about the Little House books she was reading. I tried to stop by at least once a week to take the girls out for a little bit. They would call me every once in a while and I loved to hear their voices.

One day, the calls stopped. I heard the family left on a bus to Texas. Once, I got a voicemail from Tasha saying she loved me and hoped to talk to me soon. I never heard from her or Kelly again. That was two years ago. I still worry about them. I hope they are okay. I know someone saw them once in Tulsa, but we don't know if they left again. Tasha will be 16 soon, and I think Kelly is around 13 now; young women. I can only pray they are well and that God is protecting their lives. It seems not enough. I wish I could do more. I wish I was married and financially stable so I could find them and keep them where I can protect them. I know that will never happen. I know I will probably never see them again.

Sometimes I wonder why God allows people in our lives who are so special, only to be taken away later? It feels like a game. Yet I know it's not. God isn't in the game-playing business. He is in the refining business. I'm not sure if the girls remember me; but it doesn't matter. I remember them. They will forever be a little piece of silver in my life.