After much time of schedule changing, plans falling through, and lack of opportunity,we finally got connected with a ministry. Previously we had spent our time in Malaysia going on prayer walks, sharing testimonies and helping around the small Indian church that had become our home, so we welcomed the change. Partly because 'change' included going to an orphanage, a task we deemed desirable after our favorite month at Mi Casa in El Salvador.
So, a few of us crammed into Pastor's car and drove the 30 minutes to the orphanage. Upon arriving we learned that there were 18 children between the ages of 7 months and 16 years. All of the children in the home are Indian. Immediately the three of us visiting spotted a tiny child with sores all over his body. My heart shattered as I watched him grab a comb to claw at his skin until he was bleeding. His tiny body shook with frustration as the comb was taken away from him leaving only his hands to bring the relief that he so clearly desired.
I went to him where he sat on the floor, intending to distract him from his pain in whatever way possible, but he did not respond to me. Even as I pulled him close to me and onto my lap he ignored me, too focused on his suffering to acknowledge my doting. I crooned, touched his small hands, exhausted my tactics of distraction and yielded no results. Just as he had before, he scratched and rubbed and whimpered, distraught.
This small child, I learned, sitting on my lap, is five years old though the size of a toddler. His name is Joshua (Jo-swa). He came to the orphanage with his mother, 4 year old brother, and 7 month old sister. The diagnosis assigned to his heinous disease is 'eczema', though it is far worse than anything I have ever seen in my life.
Over the next two weeks my team and I were able to revisit the orphanage a few times. Individually, each of the seven of us had our hearts shattered by the obvious suffering of our new small friend. For the duration of our time there, Joshua did not spend a second alone or ignored. Progressively, he began to receive our attention and respond to us as we pursued him.
Throughout our time at the orphanage we bonded with many children in addition to Joshua. Through teaching English lessons, bible stories, and acting as human cribs during nap time we were able to form many good friendships. Unfortunately, our time there was short. After only 5 visits we said goodbye to the small community we had become so fond of.
While our time with the children was fleeting, it will be a long time before the 7 of us forget the heartache that we felt upon our arrival. But we will also remember the joy and the laughter that we experienced as well. We will continue to hold the 18 children in our hearts and prayers as we continue on our journey, reminded of how blessed we are to be on this adventure.
