We stopped by the school where our Pastor/Translator attended. He was in the part of the building that is now on the ground. He had friends die. He presses on in school at another building and into Jesus knowing he has a calling to reach his people.
We next stopped at the Cathedral. We got out and walked around a bit. A church service was being held in tents across the street. It too was beautiful and laid in ruins. Some of the stained glass still in tact. Our team stopped for a photo op inside the ruins. We also were surrounded by people begging for anything we had to give. It was very humbling and sad. I have had people beg before, but the desperation in these people’s eyes was different. There was a complete emptiness that haunts me.
Many of you know my fabulous team leader Kari Gibson. Visit her on my sidebar at My Crazy Adoption. She is going to start sharing stories next week about our life changing trip.
We finally made it to our destination for the day. Day 2 at Well Being orphanage. We did not have a plan set in stone, but hoped to love on, play with, feed, and pour into the children and the directors. When we arrived we were greeted with the same love from the children. The children wanted to hold you, and not just be next to you holding your hand. It was a death grip kind of hold where their muscles were tense and squeezing never wanting to let go. My friend (who they called Smite) would not let me move. He sat in my lap wrapped his arms around me and pushed others away. He too told the translator that he needed me, that he wanted to go with me.
You can see below that if he could have crawled under my skin he would have. We were both squeezing. Also a funny aside… the boy next to me took my sunglasses. They were passed around all day and even though I looked for them, I did not go home with them. They were no where to be found.
As some of our friends started preparing lunch, we played around with the kids. We passed out flip flops and hats, played Frisbee and watched as some of the bigger boys climbed 80 feet up into the Mango tree to share some of their precious fruit. I don’t think the kids were allowed to just get the fruit on a regular basis because it was like candy and each of them tore into it peeling away the skin with their teeth.
Sonja went to work in the kitchen. We brought food on the previous day for a “Celebration Meal”. As soon as we got there the staff and friends got to work preparing which was no small task. She sat (with Stephanie) and made Pesto from scratch. It took over an hour of cutting and mashing and grinding. I am not even sure what part of the meal it went into, but each part of the meal took a lot of work and effort from both their staff and our team.
Our team also provided Sprite, Limeade, and Fruit Champagne. The kids were so excited, but mostly about the kitchen sink size block of ice that was sitting in the back of our Tap Tap. Some boys went to work smashing it into bits and we filled and refilled glasses over and over. (I know how they felt. I had only been there 2 days and would have done anything for something ice cold- well almost anything I sure was not tempted to eat the big block that had ridden the dusty roads in the bed of a dirty truck)
The staff of the orphanage had included us in the meal planning and expected us to participate in the Celebration Meal. Some of our team was brave and ate most all that was offered.I was glad to finally have my stomach back and out of fear only tried a bit of fried , flattened banana.
After lunch many on the team went around to the front of the home for a craft and play time. I decided to make my husband and father proud by helping make the makeshift lean-to more stable and larger. I have had years of practice holding boards for sawing. If only I knew where my sunglasses had gone.
After my help was no longer needed with the shelter, I found an older girl from the orphanage trying desperately to get the baby to sleep. I knew she had other responsibilities so I somehow convinced her to hand the baby over. I bounced and hummed her right to sleep. This is my gift, this is what I do. I tried to hide out under the trees so that someone would not take her from me and lay her in a bed somewhere. It lasted for a while. (Also noted that doves in the trees do poop on you.) Notice Smite is back in the first picture. As soon as I got her to sleep and sat down he was right there making sure that I did not forget that he had laid his claim. He stood there (with the strangle hold) for quite a while. He also helped clean the dove poop off my leg.
My buddies were busy in the kitchen and with the crafting, but they got their love time in too. Yes those are my sunglasses again.
The older girls kept disappearing into the girls dorm. I got curious as to what they were doing. This girl must have been in charge of the ironing. She had several piles of completed clothes that were ironed to perfection and several bowls left to go. I detest ironing our church clothes for Sunday morning. I cannot imagine being responsible for that many kids school and church clothes. WOW! Look closely at her iron. It is an iron, iron and hot coals were placed in the bottom. We praised her for her work and she was so proud.
Like any good guest, before leaving our team helped with the dishes (in buckets on the porch) and left gifts of candy and silly bandz.
Pray for Mami pictured with our team below. She runs the orphanage. She also has Diabetes and has recently lost one leg. Her other foot is starting not to do well. These children love and adore her. I cannot imagine what all she puts into making this orphanage work and she does it in this condition.
