The ministry that my team has been working at during our first month is called Hogar Rosa de Amor. It is essentially an orphange that takes in abused and/or abandoned children. There are about 25 kids who live here ranging from the age of 1 to 18. Most of the kids are girls, there are only 4 boys who are young (6, 4, 3, and 2). The kids are all placed here by the government once they were rescued and removed from their dangerous homes but no government help is given to provide any of their needs such as clothing, school related needs, or food.
However, despite the challenges that these kids face with their family issues and past hurts, these kids love to learn about God’s goodness and faithfulness and smile, laugh, and be children.
This month my team was given many opportunities to pour into the lives of these kids. We led many Bible studies teaching about God’s grace and love, and who Jesus was and still is. We prayed with the children, ate each meal with them, we song worship songs together, and gave many hugs. One day when the kids were coloring, Dave asked the kids to draw God. My first reaction was, “What in the world???” But the kids understood. They were drawing things like sunsets and hearts. So simple yet true and I love it!
I think my favorite part of this month though was watching the kids play. Whether they wanted to play basketball or fly a kite, they all showed so much joy and I saw God in their smiles and laughs. Even though many of them had their innocence stolen from them at a very young age, at Rosa de Amor they get the opportunity to be kids again.
God is present in this orphange and God’s love is shining throughout this country!
