In a little town in Israel, was a little girl who was hungry, cold and all alone. She had lost her family in the war that was being fought around her homeland. Amy was only 8 years old and her only friend was a little dog that was without a family also. Amy and Coco would hide in boxes and behind buildings, in fear of people and guns and missiles exploding around her. But all she wanted was a family and a home. Where she could be safe and out of harm. She had been alone for months. Her memories of her real family was like a foggy dream in her heart and mind.

Amy had been raised as a Christian, so she prayed to Jesus for a family. She asked Him for someone to love her and to take care of her and Coco. She asked Him for peace and somewhere to live where there was no fighting. No guns, no missiles and no hatred. She would plead with Jesus whenever she heard a gun go off. Scared and hungry and tired, Sara huddled in shadowy places with Coco.

One day Coco raced off, after being frightened by a gun shot. Amy raced off after him. She didn't get far when an arm wrapped around her and caught her. Amy screamed and fought with all her might. But the arms didn't let go. Slowly in her terror filled mind, she heard a gentle voice saying, "Hush little one. Don't be afraid. Hush now. I am not going to hurt you." Amy looked up slowly and saw the gentle face of a man in a uniform. A uniform very different to the ones she usually saw. She slowly calmed down, but was still very wary.

"What are you doing running around in a place like this?" the man asked her. "My dog ran off and I was trying to stop him." Amy said quietly. "Oh, well we better go see if we can find him then, come on little one, stay with me and you will be ok." Amy and the man went off in search of Coco. As they walked the man told her, "My name is Jarrod, Captain Jarrod Walsh of the United Nations Peace Keeping Force. What's your name lovely lady?" "Amy Sir." "Well Amy it is a pleasure to meet you. Now where do you live and where are you parents?" Amy explained that her home was blown up and her parents had died in the house while she was at school. She also told Jarrod that the school was bombed too. "I don't have anyone, I just have Coco and we look after each other." Jarrod was saddened by Amy's story and picked her up and gave her a cuddle. "When was the last time you had a hot meal and a nice soft bed to sleep in Amy?" "I don't know. I can't remember." Amy said with a sniffle.

They turned the next corner very carefully, Jarrod leading the way. Coco was sitting there under a staircase shivering with fright. Amy ran up to him and held him tightly in her arms. "You poor thing, I am here now you are safe. And Captain Jarrod is here too." Amy said soothingly to Coco. "Yep I am." said Jarrod. "Also I am going to take you two somewhere a little safer where you can get something hot to eat and a nice comfy bed for the night."

Amy, Jarrod and Coco only walked a few feet when Jarrod stopped and opened a car door. "Come on you two in you get." He said helping them in the car. There was another man behind the drivers wheel in the same type of uniform. Amy settled into the back seat with Coco, and was soon asleep. Jarrod explained Amy's circumstances to his friend. "Hmm poor kid. What do you think will happen to her." "I don't know, but I will do what I can and that is for sure. She is a cute kid and scared stiff. Not the most idea place to be without a family."

Amy woke up finding herself in a big bed and covered with heaps of blankets and a soft fluffy pillow under her head. Coco was curled up on a blanket on the floor beside her bed. She looked around the room and saw Jarrod asleep in a chair in one corner and a lady in a Red Cross uniform in another chair on the other side of the room. The lady looked up as Amy moved in the bed and walked over to her. "Hello Amy, did you have a nice sleep?" "Ah huh" answered Amy looking very warily at the lady. "It's ok honey, I am Jarrod's wife, Gareena. He brought you here so I could feed you but you have slept all through the night. Would you like something to eat now?" "Yes please" Amy's tummy grumbled in response.

Amy sat at a big table in the kitchen eating a bowl of oatmeal, with toast and hot chocolate. Jarrod and Gareena sat with her and told Amy about their home in Australia. Gareena said, "We should be back in Bunbury for Christmas. So we will be decorating the house and baking all sorts of wonderful things. What did you and your family do for Christmas Amy?" "We always had a big Christmas. All my family would come and we would go to church and them have a huge feast." Amy said with a sad face. "But I don't suppose I will be having Christmas this year." Tear trickled down Amy's face. "Is there anything really special you would like." Jarrod asked. "A family and peace all over the world." Amy replied with a sniffle. Jarrod and Gareena looked at each other and gave Amy a hug.

Later that day Jarrod had to take Amy to the Orphan Shelter which was run by the Red Cross. Amy was sad to have to say goodbye to her new friends. Jarrod was sad also. But reassured Amy that he would take good care of Coco as he couldn't stay in the shelter. Gareena went to see her Superiors with the Red Cross to see what she could do for Amy. Amy didn't see Coco or Jarrod and Gareena again.

One day, 4 months later, Amy was told to pack her belongings as she was going on a long journey. She didn't have much so it didn't take very long to pack. She was sitting quietly on her bed when the matron came in and gave her a pretty new dress and said, "Amy put this on sweetheart, it is a present for you." "Who from Matron? It is very pretty, I would like to say thank you." "Well sweetheart that is a secret, but I think you will have your chance to say thank you."

Amy was taken to an airport and got on a big Air Force plane. The crew where really lovely to Amy and gave her chocolate and cookies and all sorts of treats. They played games with her and let her sleep on their laps and took really good care of her on the long flight. It was night time and one of the crew woke Amy up and said, "Hey sugarplum, we are here. Time to belt up and wake up. The Captain said you can sit in the cockpit when we land, would you like that?" "Oh yes please." Amy replied with a huge smile.

Amy sat next to the pilot and was fascinated with all the lights of Perth. The plane landed at the air force base, but Amy had to stay on the plane until the crew had everything in order and the plane was secure. Amy was very nervous as she didn't have any idea what was going to happen to her, or where she was going. All she knew was that she was in Australia.

She was sitting in her seat quietly when the pilot came in and said, "Well Sugar, are you ready?" Amy nodded her head in response. The Pilot walked forward and picked her up and hugged her, you are in for a very special treat Amy, so cheer up ok." Smiling her walked out of the cockpit with her in his arms and there in the plane was all the crew. As the Pilot put Amy back on her feet the crew sang a Christmas Carole to her and Jeanie, the only lady on the crew, gave her a big box wrapped in pretty paper. "Merry Christmas Amy" They all shouted and stepped aside.

Amy had tears in her eyes as she saw Jarrod, Gareena and Coco standing behind the crew. Gareena kneeled down and opened her arms and Amy ran straight into them. Merry Christmas Amy." Gareena said through tears. Jarrod gave Amy a piece of paper and on it he read. Name Amy Walsh. Jarrod kneeled down next to Gareena and said, "Amy this is your Christmas wish come true. You are now part of our family. You are now our daughter and will live with us and Coco." Amy kissed them both and cried with joy. Gareena said " Amy we are your new parents, but, you will always have your real parents right here," she pointed to Amy's chest, "in your heart. I was able to get some things of your real family for you to keep. Treasures of your past. We are your future and will love you and care for you for as long as you live. In peace and with God."

Jarrod and Gareena picked up Amy and Coco, with the crew of the plane carrying Amy's bags and gifts. Then they got into the car and drove home. Amy got a new family for Christmas and she thanked Jesus everyday for her very very special gift for God.

Back To Sola