David is a part of a great team at World Orphans, one that we are excited to be apart of. There are four families in leadership at World Orphans: Paul and Lisa Myhill, Scott and Debbie Veir, Michael and Jody Vinson and our family. There are many children among us, where Anais and Gabe have found there closest friends.

Tonight David is in Arkansas visiting a church group that is about to send a young group on a short-term trip to Africa. They asked David to come share his experience with the youth to prepare them for their involvement. While there, he shared his story, which of course includes Talitha. It is a story that is so apart of who we are that is seems to come out easily, yet with much pain, and takes days or even a week to recover from having relived it. After the meeting, a young MK who had been raised in Uganda, approached David. She was in country when Talitha died and shared how her village, two hours south of Kampala had heard of her death a few hours afterwards. (We lived almost 2 hours north of Kampala.) Her family and village have not stopped praying for us. Tears flooded my eyes, eventually washing my face as David retold their conversation. “Rhonda, our baby girl’s story has reached many people and many more to come.” David expounded.

I believe at that moment both our minds drifted to deeper thought without conveying any words. “Talitha wanted everyone to know about Jesus, her sweet Saviour, and she overcame her fear the last many years to be able to impart this burden she had in numerous ways to scores of people. Maybe it gives God greater glory for her story to be told this way than through her own life. I wish it not, but maybe so. Sweet Talitha, the Lord is using you even now and will continue. I pray countless people come to trust passionately in the Lord because of your life, Baby Girl.” were the thoughts that rushed upon me.

Shortly after arriving back to the states, David and I both became burdened for youth at a new and deeper level. Talitha’s life is weighty among youth. It touches young people to know how some of their own live radical lives, sold out for Jesus, passionate to serve, ready to give of themselves in any way asked. God can change a touched heart into an empowered one. I pray this generation is not only touched, but empowered by the Holy Spirit to go forth in the power and love of Christ to a dying world. I pray Talitha’s life story will help to just that.