by Missions team member Jen Bantle

If I could have taken one home, it would have been Teressa.

Teressa (short vowels, beautiful rolling “r”) has deep passionate eyes and a sweet smile. She is 7, but probably weighs as much as an average American 4-yr-old. Every time I saw Teressa, she was wearing an emerald green tank top and muddy boy’s sneakers at least one size too small.
She also had this nagging cough that made me cringe every time I heard it.

Teressa was God’s reminder to me that, more than anything else, children (and all people) need to feel loved. You see, we had brought down all kinds of toys: balls of every size, beads for bracelets, and markers and crayons for drawing. While the hundred other children were playing, Teressa wanted to stay on my lap. Even when the local band was brought and a congo line started, Teressa tucked her head under my chin and buried herself as deep in my arms as she could get. She didn’t need toys and games and entertainment; she needed love.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35