I’ve had the privilege of getting to
know many of the kids at the Children’s Home where we’ve been working
this month. There was one girl who really seemed to get attached to
me. The orphanage asked us not to put their names with any photos, so
I will call her Mary for this blog. Mary is 17 years old. She was
picked up off the street when she was 5. She didn’t talk and no one
knew her name or anything about her. The people who found her gave
her a name and sent her to an orphanage. She’s been at the Children’s
Home for several years now. Slowly, she has learned to talk more, but
she still can’t converse like normal. She will answer yes and no
questions and she will sometimes speak a sentence in Tagalog (the
native language here), but that’s about it.
Still, Mary is a bright young woman. I
know she understands much more than she can say. She is a wonderful
helper at the home. When I needed to get the younger girls ready or
do some cleaning, she was always willing to help.
She also has great joy. She has an
amazing smile and a great laugh that comes from deep within her. It’s
really been a blessing to know her and spend time with her. Although
it’s obviously difficult to have a conversation with her, I know that
just reading a book to her, sitting by her and laughing with her are
ways to show her she’s loved.
her, so after asking one of the caretakers, I decided to take her to
get her nails done. There are some ladies that set up a salon at the
ministry site where we’re staying a few afternoons a week. (This is a
whole other story of these ladies getting a chance to provide for
themselves and their families). Anyway, it’s convenient and cheap to
us Americans. We can get a manicure and pedicure for about $4 while
also helping these ladies.
So, I brought Mary over and let her getthe royal treatment. The ladies painted her fingernails and toenails.
I could tell Mary felt like a million bucks. When we went back to the
Children’s Home, she showed everyone her beautiful nails. I know it
was a small thing, but it made her feel special, and I was so blessed
to get to do that for her.
has gone through in her life, and it’s even harder to see what her
future will be. Even though she’s close to the age where she could
live on her own, she obviously can’t. It’s also hard to know what she
understands about God. Sometimes I would catch her singing along with
a worship song. It’s so great to see God working in her. She
definitely has child-like faith. I’m praying she can grow in her
ability and confidence with speaking and that God has a hold of her
heart.
come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs
to such as these.”
