Orphanage

Imagine living without water, electricity, or any modern convenience; walking for a quarter of a mile for water two, three or more times a day; or getting to eat the same meals day in and day out. You don’t even have a sanitary kitchen to cook in.

The last two days, my team took a trip to an orphanage run by our hosts, Jaco and Maria.  We brought our tents and went without knowing anything about what we were going to do. We had bought food to make the children spaghetti or the closest ingredients to it. It was a great experience and it was great to be around the children. 

The thing that amazes me the most is the children.  I kept wondering who they were or where they came from.  I don’t speak any Portuguese or the native language so all I could do was smile at them and play with them.  I even had some brush through my hair. I wish I could have just communicated with the children more.  During our time there, we got to cook a meal, play with the children, do some visiting, go fill water at the local water hole, and tell the children about Joshua.

The parts that amazed me the most were the toilet for one.  I will never be afraid of the outhouses at the state park again.  The toilet I used is what you would call a long drop. It is only covered on three sides and you stand on a makeshift floor.  I prayed that I would not fall through the floor and no one would walk in on me.  The other part was the kitchen.   The kitchen consisted of a fire.  We had to just open our cans and pour the ingredients into a huge pot. It was not a the sanitary environment of home, but I still enjoyed the food.  The last part of amazement is how the children sleep.  They sleep in a huge carport tent.  The children have no beds, just a place to keep the rain off their heads.

I came back all dirty.  I came back wishing I could do more to help the children.  I wish the children could have a well on the property so that they did not have to walk for water. When my team got back, we looked like we had not taken a shower in over a week. My skin looks red from the dirt on the ground.  I am just thankful for the opportunity to visit the children and get to know them.