Editor’s Note: You may recall reading in the September Que Pasa a feature about the 40th anniversary of ICC’s Las Palmas Children’s Village in the Dominican Republic. The impact of your support goes on and on in the lives of current children as well as those who have become independent. Following is part one of an edited excerpt of a testimony from Nathalie, one of ICC’s grown children.
Before my mother died, she asked a sister from the church to take me to the Las Palmas Children’s Village. She knew that I would not be in need there. I was four years old when I came to Las Palmas. One year later, my father also passed away.
The years went by, and by the grace of God I was blessed with very good house parents and received the best instruction for life. First, I came to know the God whom I serve and on whom I depend.
I received medical attention whenever I needed it. I had a reverse bite, and when I was 15 years old, I asked for braces for my teeth as a gift rather than to have a birthday party (Quinceañera) which is a Latin custom. Through the kind generosity of my ICC family, I was told that if the braces were a necessity, it would be resolved but that I did not have to choose between a party or a medical necessity. By God’s grace, I received both, and I know that my surgery is one of the things that I will never find a way to say thank you enough to everyone who was involved in the process to make me well.
From the age of eight, I worked so I could have some money of my own. My brothers teased me and said, “Nathalie cleans the house, the church, the school and the library and in the end only earns RD$500 (about $20).” But I know it all shaped my character.
At the end of my fourth year of high school I received the highest merit and had to give the speech. That day everyone congratulated me, and I felt happy and super proud of my achievements. However, the next day I was back on the campus of Las Palmas with a wheelbarrow picking up trash. It made me realize that you should never feel that you are so high that you can not fall. I understood that your achievements do not define your value as a person and much less the work you do. Your value comes from the simple fact of existing and being created by God.
Note: Next month we’ll bring you the conclusion of Nathalie’s testimony including how she felt when she was “ready to fly.” Natalie represents the many children who have successfully “learned to fly” because of ICC family members like you. Thank you for your loving generosity!
