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.