Dunia and I!
Julieta and I!
There has been a lot of heart ache and brokenness for me during this month of ministry. A lot of things have happened back home that have been very difficult for me to deal with, and I praise Jesus for His perfect timing because CICRIN Orphanage is the best place in the world to rest, rejuvenate and receive healing from God. One of the ways I have started mending my broken heart is by caring for two delightful little orphans at CICRIN: Dunia and Julieta. Dunia is 2 and a half ye;ars old and Julieta is 6 years old. Each of us take turns watching Dunia and Julieta during the day and I must say, watching these two little ones has been my favorite form of ministry this month.
The other day I was taking a “siesta” in my bed after lunch and I was woken up by two little cuties in their swimming suits yelling, “Playa! Playa, Angie!!” This meant, “Angie, even though you’re exhausted from watching us today, can you please take us swimming down by the lake??” How could I resist those cute little faces?? I could not, so we went and it was wonderful. Dunia and Julieta are constantly loving on me and the rest of the group and there is something about getting an “abrazo” from a little child that makes everything better. Even though God is using this time to sanctify and refine me (which can be so hard sometimes, especially this month) He still provides people in my life to pour into me and fill me up with joy that comes from Him. Dunia and Julieta love to color, read their little picture “Biblia” and swing/cuddle in the hammock. It’s been such an amazing time for me to care for them and love on them for they are two such precious princesses in the Kingdom of God.
When I found out their past history before coming to CICRIN, I was horrified. Their mother was a drunk, and gave them both over to their grandmother when Dunia was an infant and Julieta was 4 years old. Their grandmother had them sleeping on a dirt floor of the one room shack they all lived in, and the children were severely beaten and verbally abused while living with her. When they came to CICRIN, they had bruises and scars from their grandmother and flee bites from living in such a dirty environment. Amy and Helen said that for the first six months of coming to CICRIN, Julieta would have nightmares all the time, yelling in her sleep “Please, Gramma! Don’t hit me! I’m sorry!!” I can’t imagine what evil would bring a grandmother to do that to her own grandchildren.
Since then, the girls have truly learned what God’s love is. They have especially learned it through the love of Helen, the director of CICRIN, and the rest of the volunteers and staff. The girls have more love, joy and peace now than ever, and the story gets better. Not only are they in a Godly, holy environment where they are cared for and provided for, but Helen is in the legal process of adopting both the girls, Dunia and Julieta, and Lord willing, very soon they will both be her legal daughters!! God is so good and stories like these always remind me how amazing Jesus is at being the Healer, the Deliverer, and the Provider. I have been honored to know both Dunia and Julieta, and Helen has become such a role model not only as a strong woman of God who runs an entire orphanage, but as someone who has taken on the financial and legal expenses to adopt. I heard a statistic once that said if every Christian adopted just one child into their family, there would be no more orphans in the world. I wish the Church would remember that we are called to care for the widows and the orphans (James 1:27) and that we are honoring God through caring for them.
This month of orphanage ministry has truly shown me the importance and necessity of adoption. It is my sincere prayer that some day I will be able to adopt a child (or two or three…) of my own, and that they can grow up in a home filled with Christ’s promises, love and truth. I pray that God will work that out for me, but if this month has taught me anything, it’s that God’s timing is PERFECT, and that if I get something taken away from me, it’s only because God has something a thousand times better for me on it’s way.
