Tent kids

Mara was born here. Named bitter because she was a child of rape. But so are most of the kids her age. Yezedi, Christian, Druze, it didn’t matter. Every woman captured in war is booty. Draped in black and posted on the market, they were soon sold as sex slaves, fourth wives, or concubines. The men of the region felt empowered. Finally a New Age was dawning, the Empire rising. Not only could they slay those who refused to convert, but as mercenaries, they had the salaries that let them prove their worth by the size of their harems. Just like the good old days.

Eventually some women escaped. But refugee camps were the only real choice available. That’s where family was. Kismet. It’s where you went. And so Mara was born here. Kinda one of the lucky ones. Some of the captured women ended up in much worse situations. Many are dead. Even more are still missing. So Mara is fortunate.

Also because her mother is with her. Many of the kids she runs with are full orphans. But the school doesn’t care. It’s open to every child. It’s the best part of Mara’s life. At home there’s a tent. One room, on the dirt. In winter it’s cold, and the gas stove can burn tents. In summer it’s hot beyond describing. Mara’s mother sings songs of places with open air, trees, and birds. Mara doesn’t know if these are real.

The school, though, is clean. The children can sit and learn. Mara was allowed to learn to read. She is the first woman in her family to do so. Even though she is only twelve she feels very proud. She’s learned big thought things, like math, English, computer, and science. Mara is fascinated. When she talks at home she watches her mother’s eyes. If she looks confused Mara changes the subject. She knows that her family is not sure if a girl should be in school at all. But Mara’s mother wants her there. She saw too much while captured. She knows that smart women were part of the behind the scenes of her capture. She hopes that by having Mara in school she can raise up a smart daughter for the other side. One of those who fight for Light and Love. And she tells Mara that.

That’s the other thing. Mara’s mother hosts a house tent church. She learned about Jesus a few years ago and could not fathom that she had never heard of Him before. Now she is on fire to tell the Gospel, but she listens to Holy Spirit before inviting someone, because the risk is great. Mara listens at her mother’s side and has secretly chosen Jesus too.

Yes, she is a tent kid. But she has a future and a hope. She is excited about what she is learning. One day she hopes to be able to help other children who move here. One day, her mother says, this place will become a town, and they will live with real walls and gardens, but already, she points out, even if the ground never yields a plant, because Mara chose Jesus, she is a Psalm 52:8 Olive Tree, flourishing in the House of the Lord.