Month five we were in the Philippines working with Kids International Ministries. When we arrived Mr. Long, the founder of the organization, gave us so many choices of things to do. Honestly I was a little over whelmed with the amount of things we could do and things he wanted us to do. But as soon as I heard that we could work in the orphanage and I didn’t have to think any longer. It was finally my chance to be with babies as much as I wanted to.
Most days when I walked through the door of the nursery at the children's home, I am greeted with little feet running toward me to wrap their arms around my knees saying, “hey Mama AP.” All of the children are absolutely beautiful. From day one of being with them I knew if I could take every one of these children home with me I would.
Honestly I used to think that it would be super easy to care for a lot of children until I was given twelve little ones and left alone for eight hours. So crazy enough I really feel like I’ve a taste of what a mother's love for her children is like and these were not even my children. It was such a blessing for me to be able to pour out love onto them. It was always hard for me to leave these babies at the end of my shift, and I looked forward to the next time I would spend several hours feeding, cleaning, playing, rocking, and caring for them.
Currently, there are nine children, six boys and two girls, in the baby and toddler nursery. The month started with twelve, but two boys and one girl moved downstairs to the big boys' area since they are now five years old. And one of the little girls “Alex” was adopted a day before we left. It was so hard to see her go because I had gotten so attached to the children. More of the children will be leaving soon, as they are adopted!
They each have their own story, most heart-breaking, but in some way or another they were brought in by the Kids International Ministries' children's home and live there full-time. There are four bedrooms, each with an attached shower, toilet, and sink. Thank goodness for that because I have never experienced so much pee and poo in my life!!! At first most of my shift was spent in the bathroom wiping bums, washing hands, and bathing them after whatever mess has just taken place. I finally started asking the kids every ten minutes, after that I didn’t have so many messes to clean up.
A week and half before we left one of the kids “Cedric” got really sick on me during my night shift and had to go to the hospital and I almost had a heart attack. He literally had a seizer in my arms and was having a hard time breathing. I was completely freaked out the rest of the night and kept checking all the kids’ rooms. He ended up having to stay in the hospital several days but came back home with a smile. They call him the million dollar baby because he’s had a lot of medical problems since he was born and he’s only three.
Leaving the kids wasn’t easy, because they are now a part of my life and will always have a place in my heart. Prayerfully I’ll be able to go back one day and adopt or foster a child from there. I’ve always wanted to have a lot of children one day when I get married but now more than ever God has confirmed in me that children are my calling. I plan to birth and foster as many kids as God will allow me. There are so many children in the world that need someone to love them and care for them, and who better to do it than me. But until then my prayer for these precious children is that they would continue to be well-cared for and that they would experience the love of a family they can call their own.
Month five we were in the Philippines working with Kids International Ministries. When we arrived Mr. Long, the founder of the organization, gave us so many choices of things to do. Honestly I was a little over whelmed with the amount of things we could do and things he wanted us to do. But as soon as I heard that we could work in the orphanage and I didn’t have to think any longer. It was finally my chance to be with babies as much as I wanted to.
Most days when I walked through the door of the nursery at the children's home, I am greeted with little feet running toward me to wrap their arms around my knees saying, “hey Mama AP.” All of the children are absolutely beautiful. From day one of being with them I knew if I could take every one of these children home with me I would.
Honestly I used to think that it would be super easy to care for a lot of children until I was given twelve little ones and left alone for eight hours. So crazy enough I really feel like I’ve a taste of what a mother's love for her children is like and these were not even my children. It was such a blessing for me to be able to pour out love onto them. It was always hard for me to leave these babies at the end of my shift, and I looked forward to the next time I would spend several hours feeding, cleaning, playing, rocking, and caring for them.
Currently, there are nine children, six boys and two girls, in the baby and toddler nursery. The month started with twelve, but two boys and one girl moved downstairs to the big boys' area since they are now five years old. And one of the little girls “Alex” was adopted a day before we left. It was so hard to see her go because I had gotten so attached to the children. More of the children will be leaving soon, as they are adopted!
They each have their own story, most heart-breaking, but in some way or another they were brought in by the Kids International Ministries' children's home and live there full-time. There are four bedrooms, each with an attached shower, toilet, and sink. Thank goodness for that because I have never experienced so much pee and poo in my life!!! At first most of my shift was spent in the bathroom wiping bums, washing hands, and bathing them after whatever mess has just taken place. I finally started asking the kids every ten minutes, after that I didn’t have so many messes to clean up.
A week and half before we left one of the kids “Cedric” got really sick on me during my night shift and had to go to the hospital and I almost had a heart attack. He literally had a seizer in my arms and was having a hard time breathing. I was completely freaked out the rest of the night and kept checking all the kids’ rooms. He ended up having to stay in the hospital several days but came back home with a smile. They call him the million dollar baby because he’s had a lot of medical problems since he was born and he’s only three.
Leaving the kids wasn’t easy, because they are now a part of my life and will always have a place in my heart. Prayerfully I’ll be able to go back one day and adopt or foster a child from there. I’ve always wanted to have a lot of children one day when I get married but now more than ever God has confirmed in me that children are my calling. I plan to birth and foster as many kids as God will allow me. There are so many children in the world that need someone to love them and care for them, and who better to do it than me. But until then my prayer for these precious children is that they would continue to be well-cared for and that they would experience the love of a family they can call their own.
