She was Lost but Now is Found

By Rika Boersma

Three months ago, a call came from Social Welfare, that a girl was found separated and lost from her family in Maputo, Mozambique. When the call came in, the leaders at All Nations Mozambique knew, in unity, that God was sending this girl for a reason to our family homes. She was welcomed at one of our houses and loved and cared for as family.

But of course, we saw the longing in her to find her family. She is 10 years old and could remember her family well. It was unclear how the separation with had happened during her travel, but she started sharing with Leonor where she came from, how she came into Maputo, remembering well the village name she was from. After lots of investigation, the team decided to go to Inharrime, a town about 450km from Maputo.

And so the journey began, prayerfully and trusting God to lead them, to the town that only had a name and no clear directions of street name or home number. A journey by faith to reconcile a little girl with her family. I continue in the words of Leonor:

“The story of Julia is a miracle, a miracle, a miracle!!! Through this story it again confirmed and demonstrated to me that God indeed exists. We left the morning early. There were two ways to choose from; so we decided to follow the way as if going to Inhambane. We came to a place, not sure where to go. I asked a young boy if he knows the public transport (taxi) stop to Inharime. He said we had to continue until we found the curve. So, we continued until the curve came in the road and then stopped. We asked a lady if this is the place we were looking for. She confirmed that we were at the right place. Julia was not sure, as she remembered more buildings. But, I heard a voice telling me to climb out of the car with Julia. We proceeded and decided to walk a bit down the road where there were more people walking. I asked Julia if she remembered anything of this area? As I asked this question, from around the corner came a young girl running and looked at us. She stopped, approached us and then looked at Julia. I asked her: ‘Do you know this girl? We are looking for her family. She got separated from them in Maputo.’ The girl screamed out: ‘Julia! Julia it is you! My, how you have grown!!! She is the daughter of my sister.’ She proceeded to take us to her mother’s home, who took us to Julia’s grandparents. We contacted Social Welfare to come and assist us with the re-intergration process of Julia.”

We were able to take Julia to her place of her birth, where she grew up and used to live with her grandparents. Julia was lost, but now is found. The only reason why she was re-united with her family is because of the Holy Spirit leading and guiding Leonor and Stephen as they went the extra mile with a passion in their hearts to bring this girl back to her family. Leonor said at the end of the day: “It is because of Him. We work with Him. It is a miracle that the girl came running down the road and recognized Julia.”

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? Luke 15:4