After a week we’re starting to get in the routine of things. One of the highlights of my day is going to the orphanage and seeing all the sweet faces that are slowly taken over my soul. So far I’ve flip-flopped shifts between the toddlers and the 4 older girls.
There is so much for me to learn from them, so much for them to learn from me. I think one of the most important jobs I’ll have this month is just sitting and doing life with them, listening and caring, comforting and laughing, and being an example for them to follow. Helping with homework, getting ready for bed, getting dressed in the morning, making sure their doing chores, just pouring life and Christ’s love into their routines are some of the responsibilities I’ve been helping them with.
Obviously 3 year olds are different from 10 year olds, so it’s been fun mixing the two different shifts. The toddler’s innocence and lively spirit is exhausting but ignites life at the same time. I think one of the hardest parts so far has been once when I was taking the toddlers into the kitchen for dinner, they were all sitting at their small size table, eating their rice like little adults, and I was crouched down between the two girls helping them take drinks, one of the baby girls(probably 3years old) put her precious hand on my arm and said ‘mama’ and smiled…I just sat there. My heart melted and broke at the same time. She smiled her precious little girl smile and I said ‘no, Ate’ ‘ (which means like respected sister…they call me Ate’ Kip. Every older figure if you’re a girl gets called Ate’)
I have more to say about this and a sweet video I need to post, so stay posted, more to come. We have our first day off tomorrow and I’m SO excited! I love those babies, but I need a little rejuvenation!
