Rock-A-By Baby…………..
So what have I been doing in the Philippines some people wonder……….. Well, let me just tell ya J We are staying at an amazing camp led by two incredible Christians. There is an orphanage on the property that houses 24 children ranging in ages of 7 months to 13 years old. We take 8 hour shifts at the orphanage and stay with the kidos. Most of them can speak English. Let me just say that it is quite an experience for some that have never kept children before. On several occasions I have seen some of our team chasing naked toddlers trying to get them in the shower. It makes my heart smile. I can’t imagine where these children would be if not here in the orphanage.
After spending years keeping children for several families I am aware of the particulars of parents. They all wan to the best for their babies…………. Who can blame them? I just wished that everyone could spend just one day in the orphanage, just to see what “necessities” really are.
I have never had to shower a toddler after they went potty on themselves because there isn’t enough diapers to keep on them all day long. I have never had to use toilet paper to clean a baby because there aren’t enough wipes to last through the week. I have never had to put the can of baby formula in a bowl of water so ants and bugs won’t get in the formula. I have never had to drive into town to get clean drinkable water make a bottle for an infant because the tap water isn’t sanitary. I have never had to see teeth fall out due to lack of nutrition in a toddler. I have never had to give children sippie cups full of vitamin powder mixed with water every night before bed because they can’t get all the nutrients they need in their diets.
At the orphanage these children are shown love, kindness, grace, and attention. They think they are just like any other child growing up. These kids actually spend time outside and play and swing instead of video games, TV, and internet. They have a bible study every night with skits and songs. They love to play in the dirt when it rains and play with toys. It is truly heart touching to see the older kids take such good care of the younger children. They feed them and sit with them in church. They are such self-less individuals.
