If you have not
already gathered from other blogs (I am horrible at updating mine, sorry!), our
squad is spending this month working together in Manila, Philippines. We are working with Kids International
Ministries (KIM), an organization that was started several years ago by an
American missionary family here in the Philippines. We are all divided up into different branches of the ministry,
as there are many types of needs within this city. Personally, I have been working in the nursery at the
orphanage across the street from where we are staying. I will mostly be working the night
shift from 7 pm to 7 am, which will entail putting three adorable toddlers to
bed and subsequently getting them up and feeding them breakfast in the
mornings.
[my new little friends, both 2 years old.]
[My other little friend – a bit caught off guard by the camera – age 3]
I have to admit that the
first night spent in the orphanage was a little surreal for me. My heart began to grow heavy as I sat
alone in a dark room after putting the three children to bed. I spent some time writing in my journal
about how it seemed so unfair that this is the life that these children were
given. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a
fine orphanage and they are well taken care of by the staff. But nothing can take the place of two
loving parents, a warm home, and maybe a few brothers and sisters. Doesn’t every child deserve those
things?
A couple of nights
ago the two boys both seemed to be having bad dreams throughout the night. They were crying in their sleep and
several times I heard them yell out “Mama” or “Dadda.” It makes me wonder how their state of
being orphaned affects their little hearts and minds at such a young age.
God has broken my
heart for the orphans of this world, and I plan to adopt at least three
children in the future. I strongly
believe it is our duty as Christians to provide loving homes for the millions
of parentless children in the world.
I understand this is a huge thing to ask, but if each capable family
adopted just one homeless child, this problem would surely decrease
dramatically.
Each night that I tuck these three little ones into their beds, I will continue to pray that God
brings loving Christian parents into their lives to adopt them and give them
the blessed lives they deserve.
