The past few weeks, my team and I have been trying to show and teach the 40 kids at the orphanage about the Lord’s love for each of us. On Valentine’s Day, our team wanted to make all of the girls at the orphanage feel loved and seen, so we decided to throw a party.
My team and I cleaned out a small tiled area. We scrubbed the floors, battled spiders and ants, and made endless posters and signs. We worked all morning and afternoon in hopes to make the party special for the girls.
That evening, we sent all the boys home and invited the girls over for a special surprise. Slowly, the girls came to the party. They were timid at first, most likely because there so simply so much to do. They had the option to get their hair done, pain their nails, put on makeup, paint or color, take pictures in a photo booth, and have snacks and drinks!
Sitting with the girls that evening was so special. Not only did they want to do each other’s makeup, but they insisted on putting makeup on my team and I. By the end of the night, everyone was decorated in lipstick and nail polish.
It was so sweet to goof around with the girls and to see a totally different and sassy side of each of them. We wanted to show the girls how much we loved them, but they also made my team and I feel so loved. I walked away from that evening with my hair braided, my makeup done by a 15 year old, and a drawing from our grandmother, Maya. It was a night filled with laughter and joy. There is no doubt in my mind that each person at the party that night left feeling the intense and overwhelming love of God.
