This month in Peru, my team and I have been serving at one of the sweetest orphanages. Josephine’s House was started by our host this months, mom and dad out of a need they saw for a home for children in Peru. It’s completely run by the faithful support of believers and it’s been such a joy to serve there this month. Currently the Josephine House is home to mostly babies, 2 & under with the acceptation of a sweet six-year-old. Our days at the Josephine house are pretty predictable. We play, watch, feed, clean, and love on the babies, in addition to helping with laundry and dishes and making sure the house is clean. It’s been a lot of fun. & so many of my teammates and I are truly in our element this month serving alongside of them.
The other day, we arrived in the afternoon and were helping give the babies their milk when one of the cutest girls walked over to me. A, is super tiny, has the biggest eyes, and carries with her the cutest little smile! She walked towards me and sat in my lap. It was then that I noticed, her white onesie, with blue and purple letters that stated “Daddy’s Girl”. For a moment, my heart broke. Most of the children in the orphanage have never known a father. The orphanage workers, who are seriously amazing, are all female and based upon what we’ve heard many of the children were brought to the Josephine house as babies, meaning for most the children in the home they don’t even understand what it means to have a father. I assumed the onesie was donated, as we were told many of the clothes have been, but regardless of how it landed on this sweet girl, it hurt.
It hurt because, I grew up in a home with an incredible dad. Growing up my dad worked hard so my mom could stay at home with my brother and I. He worked hard to provide for our family, but also was able to put down work to be there for us for any dance recital, cross country meets, or school functions. He lead our family spiritually, was beside me when I asked the Lord to save me, and went above and beyond to show our family that he loved us. On Valentine’s Day he would often come to school and bring me lunch (as my parents often did) but he always made it super special, bringing red placements and balloons to decorate the table where we would sit. As a little girl, we would go on “daddy-daughter dates” to the movies and to dinner. He truly went out of his way to show His love for me and in doing so, He truly displayed the heart of the Father so well. So sitting on the floor, holding this sweet baby my heart hurt knowing she hadn’t experienced this kind of love. Wondering if she ever would know the love of a Father in the way I had so greatly encountered.
Looking around the room full of children who have been abandoned by the very ones who God designed to care for them. For whatever reason it may be, their parents had to or chose to, or needed to give them up. While there is no judgement for those precious mothers, who graciously choose life for their sweet babies, it reminded me all the more of the borknessness of the world. The world, as God intended it, was not intended to be full of orphanages, babies we’re not supposed to be raised by kind “Tia’s” in homes flooded with babies that the state cannot take care of. When God created man, He had a much different idea of family, that sadly the brokenness and sinfulness of the world has corrupted, making it so very necessary for orphanages to open up their doors and love one of the most vulnerability populations among us.
Yet, weren’t sitting there long before the Lord quietly whispered to me that in thinking that, I have missed his heart as Father. In thinking that, that I have greatly misunderstood the depths of His love for sweet baby A. In the midst of the chaos of giving so many babies, so many bottles he reminded me that He was indeed a “Daddy’s Girl” and the His love for her far surpassed the love I had ever experienced from earthly Father. & not just for baby A, but for all the babies. I sat there holding A and was reminded that our God is truly a good Father. Of all the places, she could of been taken too she was taken to Josephine house. A home where she is loved, cared for exceptionally well, and where people desire to see her adopted into a good home.
My prayer for all the babies is that they won’t just grow up to one day know the love of an earthly father, but that they will grow up the know the unconditionally, relentless love of a Heavenly Father. Who loves them so much, that He left everything the make them His own, to adopt them, to call them children.
Working in the Josephine house has revealed more of the Father’s heart for orphan care and vulnerable populations. It’s made me more aware of ways I can both intercede for these precious little ones and ways that I can support them more. If you’d be willing to come alongside me in praying for these sweet babies. If you’d like to know more about ways you can support the Josephine house, feel free to shoot me a message. I’d to send you more details.
