¿Quieres tomar un selfie? This has become a daily question over the past few weeks here in Ecuador. Our ministry this month is at an orphanage called Para Sus Niños (For His Children) in the city of Latacunga. The children here enjoy many activities, and taking selfies ranks pretty high on the list!
When we first found out we would be working at an orphanage, I was really excited. I enjoy working with kids, so I thought this would be the perfect ministry! Before arriving, we had been told there were children ranging in age from babies to 18 years old and that some of them also had special needs. Little did we know exactly what we were in for.
After two full days of travel with very little sleep, my emotional state was somewhat delicate. We finally arrived at the orphanage and I was overcome with joy upon seeing our living accommodations for the month. We have our own little apartment with a full kitchen, living area, real beds, warm showers, and a COFFEE MAKER. I don’t think I have ever been so excited to see a coffee pot in my life. However, the initial ecstatic feeling I had was quickly replaced with a feeling of sheer panic as soon as we walked through the door from our living room and into the area where the children live. We were under the impression that most of the kids we would be working with did not have special needs, so it was a little shocking/overwhelming when we walked in to see that every child in the room had special needs. Prior to this moment my experience with special needs kids was very limited, and the one experience I had previously had was pretty unpleasant. Almost immediately upon walking into the room to meet them, one of the kids bit my teammate Casey. Naturally, I was a little terrified.
Well. After three weeks of working with the kids here, I think it’s safe to say I have fallen in love with all of them. Thirteen of the eighteen kids have special needs, and these are the kids we spend most of our time with. Some days we take them on walks outside around the porch or occasionally down the road to admire the surrounding beauty. Some days we just play with them inside, whether it be coloring, making necklaces out of blocks, or watching really strange Latin American worship music videos. And everyday we help the tias (their caretakers) with feeding them lunch and dinner. There’s never a dull moment around here! No matter what we’re doing, you can be sure that someone will have a camera out at any given time to capture the adorable and sometimes ridiculous things they do. Like I mentioned before, many of the kids love taking pictures of themselves. I love seeing their faces light up and seeing them nod emphatically when I ask if they want to take a selfie. As I’ve gotten to know each child during my time here, I’ve learned a lot and gained a better understanding of children with special needs. It’s common to see children who aren’t “normal” and treat them differently or dismiss them altogether because of their disabilities. But I’ve learned that they understand a lot more than people often give them credit for. Most importantly, I’ve learned to see them the way God sees them: as precious children created in His image. Working with them has been challenging yet rewarding. Some days they are easy to love. Other days they don’t like you, they refuse to listen to you, and they try to bite you. But no matter what they do I always have to remember that God loves them, and the reason I’m here is to reflect His love to them.
Getting ready to go for a walk!
Taking selfies with my amigos!
It has truly been a wonderful month, and saying goodbye to the children and the tias will be difficult. My team and I are leaving today for Quito, where there is another Para Sus Niños orphanage where we will be finishing our final week of ministry. Please keep us in your prayers during our last week of ministry in Ecuador!
