Anyone who has ever entered Love & Hope Children’s Home has probably heard one of our 20-plus children calling, “Tia Mila!” Mila has been a Love & Hope fixture for many years, and just last week Mila retired after nine years of service at Love & Hope to care for herself and her family.
Mila has been an integral part of many of our children’s lives having helped raise many of them from infancy. She shares a special relationship with almost every one of the children. Her sweet, gentle, and patient nature has served as a refuge for many of the children who would often go running to her to share good news, seek comfort or just to cuddle.
Over her nine years as a caregiver, Mila has cared for every child and worked in every room at one time or another. Rachel remembers her saying years ago that she would stay at Love and Hope until she saw Chamba walk – and Chamba started walking in 2006! Later, Mila promised to stay until Kevincito got healthy – And Kevin went home with his new family in Ohio this past April. These past few years, Mila has cared for little Kevincito. She has fed him, comforted him, helped him with therapy, and nursed him back to health many times after sickness. She never wavered in her affection or concern, knowing all the while that he would not be able to stay with her forever. It was a bittersweet moment for Mila when she finally had to let her little muchachito go home to his new family in the States. She would miss him dearly, but took comfort in the knowledge that he was going to a home where he would be deeply loved and have access to the care and medical attention that he needed.
Mila clearly saw working at Love & Hope Children’s Home as more than a job. She was constantly moving, playing, cleaning, teaching, interacting, and helping. Her work never seemed to end and yet Mila was always cheerful, overflowing, and bubbling with joy. She is an example to the children and adults at Love & Hope of a person who picks up her cross everyday and seeks to serve God with all of her might.
We formally said goodbye to Mila on April 30th with a special dinner, slideshow and a few games. Everyone got dressed-up, we decorated the kitchen and set the table. There was a time designated for “speeches,” where many of the adults and even some of the older children expressed their love for this dear woman: “When I needed someone to talk to, you always listened.” “I’ve learned patience from you.” “Thank you for your service here.” It was an emotional evening for many of the kids. They recognize and appreciate the motherly figure that Mila has been to them. It was touching and heartbreaking to see the tears shed on her behalf.
Tia Mila has promised to visit and we are going to hold her to it. We love her too much to let her go that easily (and she loves us too!).
For the last nine years, Mila has been planting seeds at Love & Hope. She has taught our children the love of God in word and deed. We are confident that one day our Creator will take her in his arms and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your master’s happiness.” (Matthew 25:21) We love you and thank you, Tia Milita. There are no words, gift or act that could adequately thank you for the work you have done at Love & Hope. Come visit us soon!