“Një, dy, tre, djathë!”
(One, two, three, chesese!)
They said they needed someone to take pictures–pictures of the orphans, so they might be sponsored. Our ministry host knew I had brought my camera and asked me if I could come take pictures of the children. Of course, I said yes. I walked into the classroom, took my lens cover off, and was ready to start snapping away.
Pictures have a way to grasp the soul of the subject and whisper untold stories.
This is exactly what took place. Between the duck faces, thrown up hand gestures, and laughter . . . much laughter, these children become vulnerable on the other end of the lens.
Their eyes hinted hope, their expressions exhilarated enthusiasm, and their smiles showed innocence that was slowly slipping away due to their stories.
What exactly are their stories? I am glad you asked. I wish I had time to share about each of them; however, that would take terribly too long, so I will share three of them that hit me hard. Real hard.
“My father shot my mother right in front of me.”
Two little girls and one little boy who all look strangely alike. The youngest is six and the oldest is 11. They are obviously related—ahh, they are brother and sisters. The youngest will melt your heart. She is shy and does not laugh often. Everything, and I mean everything, is serious to her. She caught my attention when I went to take her picture. I was fixing her soft brown hair when she pulled my face close to hers and asked, “Can I have candy after this?” The way she said it. So serious. Why is a six year old so serious about something like candy? I needed to know her story. Her older siblings and she had been in the orphanage for about three months. She would play with the kids that were her age, laugh, and forget about life for a bit, but then in the middle of play time pull away and go to her room to be alone. Why? Why are these siblings in an orphanage? Be careful when you ask such weighted questions, because the answers will usually be heavier than you prepared yourself for. Their father shot their mother, then their grandmother, and lastly took his own life right in front of them. Let that sink in. The worse part? They think their momma is in the hospital and eventually coming to pick them up. They ask about them daily and do not understand the reality of it yet.
“I was left at a bus stop.”
This little boy carefully walked into the room. He glanced around at sea of faces. And then he saw it . . . that’s right—he saw the GINORMOUS pile of pillows. He ran and leaped in the air and quickly landed in a heap of pillows. The sweetest smile spread across his face. This smile lit up the whole room. He reminded me of a boy I use to babysit from back home and I constantly felt a connection. Also, the camera LOVED him. As he became more comfortable with me, he started talking. Not with words, but with his eyes. Not directly to me, but through the camera. There was something about him. His eyes had seen a lot for a boy his age, but he was still clinging to the innocence of a child. I needed to know his story. How did he end up in this orphanage? The answer—with the help of bus drivers. This joyful 5 year old boy was left at a bus stop by his mother. Apparently, she already had too many children and simply left him to fend for himself. The bus drivers became his new family. They fed him, took him on the road with them, and cared for him as if he was their own son. As he got older, they realized they could no longer provide the best for him, so they took him to the orphanage in Tirana, Albania.
“Where is mommy?”
This little boy made an impression the very first day my team showed up the children’s orphanage. We walked into the living room on one of the floors and this little boy was crying, with a band aid on the left side of his head. He had just been wounded. The ladies that worked there were trying their best to clean up the battle wound, and this poor little boy was scared, whimpering, and hurt. They finally got him calmed down and he sat in front of a TV that was playing a popular cartoon and all was right in the world. Come to find out, it was his first day at this orphanage. Bless his heart. He had been transferred from the other orphanage that were for the younger children and babies. On this specific day, he would not step away from the open window. I was trying to snap a quick portrait shot of him and he would not have it. My teammates and I tried to get him away from the window and he kept repeating the same phrase. We could not understand what he was saying, until our translator explained to us what he was saying. He was saying, “My mommy is coming. Where is she? She is coming back. I’m looking for.” Well that is just heart breaking in itself. What is worse is that he has never met his mother. The person he was calling mommy was a lady that worked at the other orphanage and had basically raised him there. When we went back yesterday to take more pictures, he had been there a grand total of five days, and he was a different person! I took a picture of him on his first day and yesterday. The pictures speak loud and care. He is like a new person, slowly making friends at his new home, and getting accustom with the new living conditions.
Each story is unique and real. Each child in the Hope for the World—Albania orphanages can be sponsored. If you are interested, here is the link: http://www.hopefortheworldalbania.com
Hope for the World—Albania does an excellent job taking care of the orphans and have people that love the Lord and are passionate about their job. Our ministry host lights up when she talks about these children. Watching her interact with them is a blessing within itself. Not only does she love them, but they love her back! If you do feel led to sponsor a child, know that they are in good hands.
