This is the class that I was able to sponsor with the donations you all gave me. That money is still effecting people today. The love it helped to spread means so much.
My mind was blown and my day was made after that short conversation. I had no idea that any of the sixth graders would remember me seven months later. I know that I stand out, being about one of ten while people in almost the whole of Pachacutec. But still, volunteers come and go pretty frequently.
I was very happy after this conversation.
This afternoon, after we got home from Pachacutec and ate lunch, Katie and I went to the new orphanage Divino Jesus. This orphanage is the new home of all the babies from San Antonio.
This orphanage makes me happy also. Yesterday was the first time we were allowed to visit this orphanage, and it is very different than the one they were in before. At Divine Jesus, there are 5-8 children in each room with one mom to a room. The moms seem much happier here, and this translates into better care for the kids.
My kids yesterday were allowed to play with their toys all day; we even colored! Having 6 children versus 15 children in one room makes a huge difference as to what you can do with them. Today, when we went back, Katie and I walked into the huge courtyard and found them all playing outside! In all four months I was at San Antionio's, I probably played outside with those babies no more than 15 days. Today, all of the kids were out together, and the moms were playing with them. They were getting to be little kids; running and screaming and laughing. I was happy when I left there today.
Happy for the first time ever leaving an orphanage. But happiness must be a relative thing, because even through they are better off, they are still missing so many things they deserve. Parents to worry about tucking them in bed, about wether they have eaten enough, about their cough and runny nose, and about the bump on their head. The small things that mean the most, the untangle things. Those are the things that matter the most. I was happy today. But still, I was sad.
Once you meet these kids who have no one; once you hold their hand and kiss their bellies, you can't fully heal your heart. Your heart is broken the moment you let yourself love them. After knowing their pain and longing for love, you can't be completely happy again. This is the way I would have it though. I wouldn't ever change it. Because we are told:
"I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!" - Matthew 25:40Jesus dies for me, the least I can do for Him is continue to love with a break in my heart.
This is awesome! How sweet that they remembered you and bothered to stop you to say hello. Love that! So happy for you.
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