Andrea

She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home ::. Proverbs 7:11

Andrea has looks that could kill. Not only is she beautiful, but really, sometimes when she’s pissed off she gives a look that makes me fear for my life. It’s amazing how the expression on her face can go from sweet and innocent in one instant to a raging bull the next; steam coming out of the ears and everything. When I looked up Andrea’s name I found that it means “brave.” At first I wasn’t sure that brave was especially fitting for a child who (fake) sobs uncontrollably when facing consequences of her naughty actions, but after thinking about it and looking at some definitions, Andrea is brave, or at least has the qualities of a courageous warrior. When I think of the word brave, I think of people who are unafraid to take risks, people who challenge authority (whether for constructive or destructive reasons) and I think of leaders. Right now, Andrea’s behaviors can be described more as defiant rather than brave. She is the rebel leader of the group, planning and executing midnight runaways, refusing to do her school work and formulating crafty lies because, well…she does what she wants.

But under this thick skinned toughy is a sweet little girl. One who loves to get dolled up in pretty dresses, fit the dogs with doll clothes and straighten Barbie’s {plastic} hair with an iron (that didn’t turn out so well). She’s desperate for attention, and for reasons we have yet to figure out she seems to beg more for negative attention and has no sense of conviction for her bad behavior. But in the words of wise Peter Willard “bad kids make the best Christians.” Andrea has the potential to make the most progress here at Casa Havilah and with her qualities of  bravery and courage she could turn her life into something amazing. But it has to start with faith in God who can see her through these difficult times in her life and faith in herself as well.  I hope that by living with Andrea I can be a part of her growing process and maybe even someday see the storm inside of her come to rest and blossom into the courageous young woman that I believe God intended her to be.

****************************************************************

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. ::. Pslams 107: 28-30

If God can calm the craziest storms of the sea, He can calm Andrea’s heart. …Maybe that was a little cheesy, but I believe it!! Please pray for Andrea…