It’s with a heavy heart that I write this memorial for Darlin Lima. This week we faced another “first” for all of us at Shadow of His Wings Orphanage, with the death of one of our girls.
I remember the death grip Darlin had on my arm, in 2003, while we sat in the courtroom waiting for the judge to make a decision about Darlin’s future. Her aunt used strong words to make her wishes known that Darlin should return to her home. With her face drawn in lines of fear, and her eyes darting from person to person, Darlin told the judge that she wanted to live at Shadow of His Wings Orphanage. The judge determined that Shadow would be the best place for Darlin and declared her permanent population until she turned eighteen. Darlin lived with us until that time, and then she moved on to marry and have a daughter.
Nothing prepared us for the effects of a tragedy that struck a town on the edge of Guatemala City on October 1, 2015. Due to heavy rains, a hillside in El Chambray 2, on the edge of Guatemala City, came crashing down on about 125 homes. The death count as of October 7 stands at 186 bodies recovered, but hundreds are still missing.
During the recovery process, someone found a journal at the site with three pictures in it, and they posted the pictures in the news. Someone who used to work for Shadow saw the pictures and identified Darlin. He immediately called Shadow to give us this information. Another past employee of Shadow was volunteering at the mudslide site and, after hearing about Darlin’s picture, contacted Darlin’s family and met them later at the morgue. Darlin’s family identified her and her daughter. Her sister said that rescuers found Darlin with her arms wrapped around her three-year-old daughter.
Later, as many of us gathered to support Darlin’s family that Sunday at El Chambray, I remembered how this
independent, determined, and sometimes rebellious curly-haired girl fit into the Shadow family immediately. Whatever Darlin did, she put all of her abilities into it. When she played, she played hard. When she ministered in prayer or word, she did it with her whole heart. If she got upset with someone or something, those around her knew it. I especially loved watching Darlin in the gymnastic presentations. She gave it her best, showing her talent with a huge smile on her face. I saw the same characteristics when she and the girls did worship dance at church.
We had normal times of family-living together, with arguments and fights amongst the girls. I remembered a time when Darlin hit another girl and said that she did not do it. Later, her conscience got the better of her, and she confessed that she did hit the girl and lied about it. She stood ready to take on any discipline I gave out. It turned out to be minimal because of her confession and desire to be honest.
Darlin showed leadership abilities. The girls were encouraged to minister in the community, at the nursing home, during VBS, and for different opportunities at Shadow. She would be one of the first to volunteer and sometimes headed up the service needed. Darlin took ministry seriously, slipping from giggling to revering the Lord.
What touched my heart deeply was hearing the girls who went with us to El Cambray talk about their “sister” Darlin. I could hear the message of love and family in their stories as they reminisced through laughter and tears. Joanne and I desired for Shadow to be a family, and their stories showed that they felt a part of a family who loved them. Even though she no longer lives with us, she remains part of the Shadow family.
Darlin, you will always remain in our hearts. Our loss is Heaven’s gain.
Carroll, you’ve written a touching passage about this young woman. I liked reading about her life as an adolescent. Those of us who have raised adolescents will recognize these things right away. She had a hard start in life, worked through it with the help of you and your project, and was becoming a fine adult. There seem to be a lot of tragic stories in Guatemala, I remember seeing many. Now the political events make me hopeful for a better future for Guatemala. Perhaps government action and rising incomes in the future will make it less likely that people like Darlin will have their lives cut short. I hope so.
I hope life can be better for the many people who have to fight poverty in order to survive while living in a country that doesn’t focus on these needs like they could. I pray change is coming.
You’ve written a beautiful tribute to honor what the Lord did in this precious young woman’s life. I remember some of these memories in Darlin’s life and cry with you. Thanks for sharing her story with all of us.
Darlin’s character made a big impact on all of our lives. She led the way for the girls in many ways. We were blessed to have her with us for the time we did. Thanks Dannie for your kind words.
Thanks for the touching story, Carroll. When I heard of the landslide, I was afraid some you knew were killed. You have a lot of strength to deal with life. Bless you.
Judy
I has been a painful time for all of us. When the Shadow family can come together like they did, it helps with the grieving. We shared, cried, hugged, laughed, and sometimes we were just quiet. Please continue to pray for the surviving families who lost loved ones and possessions. These are very poor people who have to start over someplace else. Thank you Judy.