I’ve worked in orphanages before and have had my heart stolen many times by the kids I’ve met there. This isn’t something new to me, so I thought I would be prepared for the orphanage this month. Boy, was I wrong.
This place wasn’t just an orphanage, it was one for kids with special needs. Most of the kids that are there are effected by agent orange. I’ve heard and even seen some pictures before of the effects that agent orange had on people both in the states and in Vietnam. Pictures just don’t do it justice. There’s no way I could have been prepared for the way my heart was about to be taken.
Kun
Kun (sounds like Koon) was the first lil man I saw. About 3 years old, he looks like he has downs, was missing a hand, and in a crib. I was immediately drawn to him.
He was immediately drawn to my water bottle. Bright purple and he wanted it! He was reaching through the bars trying to get to it. It took me a sec to realize what he was trying to get. So I unhooked it from my bag and put it in the crib with him. He just kept knocking it down, seeing and hearing the water move, then put it upright and knocked it down again. Over and over and over again he played. So simple but so precious. He is a beautiful child. Man my heart was already being stolen by the first kid. I’m in trouble.
Tam
After a bit, I went into the room behind him. In it were 5 more children. All with very intense needs. My sweet friend Libby was sitting beside one of the boys, Tam, in tears. I tried to see and smile at the other kids in the room, but I kept feeling drawn to her tears. So I went over to her and found out he was 19 years old and his name was Tam (sounds like Tom). He was having a hard time breathing and was coughing or more accurately choking half of the time. We couldn’t find any one who worked there to help for quite some time, but once we did, they ended up taking him out of his chair and put him on the floor with a pillow to prop up his head. Seemed to help with his breathing a lot.
While sitting next to Him, praying over him, and talking to him, I got an idea. Music. I got my headphones out and put on some worship music and put the ear buds into his ears. It was incredible. Like all of a sudden a light turned on inside him. He was trying to make noises, he was smiling, He was moving around. Not much mind you, but he was awakened and looked much more alive from this music. I’ve heard before how music has effects on people in nursing homes and special needs kids who can’t communicate much or have special needs, but this was the most beautiful proof I’ve ever seen. Music is powerful. Tam loved it. I was determined from then on to bring music back to him every time we went back to the orphanage.
Tinh
While sitting there with Tam, I started to pay closer attention to the other kids in the room. One lil princess caught my eye with her bright smile and drool. Tinh (sounds like Dun said really fast) Yes I said drool. She is beautiful. Full of smiles, and is aching to move. She was all over that mat once she was out of her chair. Even with disfigured hands, legs, and feet, she was still able to scoot herself around and even pick up a couple legos. All while smiling and laughing the most beautiful laugh I’ve ever heard. She is so full of joy, such a little light in that room. Another one stole my heart.
We only got to go to that orphanage 3 times in the month we were here, but those 3 times were some of my favorite and yet some of the hardest days on the race for me so far. I’ve always loved kids with special needs. Even as a kid in grade school, I was drawn to helping and to loving them. These kids, affected by agent orange were some of the most intense cases of special needs I’ve ever been around. They were beautiful. Each created by God. I know sometimes its hard to see Him in places like that. Its so easy to question why He would allow this, why He would create children with such intense needs and pain. I’m not God, so I can’t answer the why, but I can say this. HE LOVES THEM! I have NO doubt about that. He was there. In that room with them I could feel His presence; I could sense His angels with each of the kids there. He hasn’t abandoned them and they are not forgotten. He hurts when they hurt and he sees everything they go through. He sent us there to love on them, to share Jesus with them, even if it was just by playing with them, smiling at them and talking to them. Jesus was shared with these kids. Several of them heard his praises in worship music. Even though it was in English, I am confident God let that sink into their hearts and minister to them.
This scripture has never been more alive to me than now…
Matthew 18:10 Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven, their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.
Their angels are with God. Tam, Kun, and Tinh’s angels are with the heavenly Father and they are loved and looked out for by Him. I look forward to the day when I see them in restored bodies in heaven, dancing with our Lord. What a day that will be!
