As most of you know, I have spent the past 12 days in Cambodia working at Happy Tree Orphanage which takes care of 91 children who are HIV-positive. I have talked a little bit about my time and posted some pictures, but here is a closer look at some of the kids I fell in love with:
Kong Soknang: She is 4 years old and has been at the orphanage for 2 years. She came from a province about 6 hours away. Her parents have died and she was living with her grandmother until they found out she was HIV positive and then was brought to the orphanage.
We spent countless hours in the playroom with this toy trying to find the right shapes.
There was a mini playground outside where she would be so excited to have me watch her go down the slide.
Then there was constant laughter on the seesaw and big smiles being produced every time she flew in the air.
Every time I walked through the doors of the orphanage either Soknang would be running into my arms, or another kid would immediately go find her. Everyone there knew she was my girl. She always wanted me to hold her, throw her in the air, and swing her around while she hung upside down from my arms. We formed a bond, and I not only love her, but I know her. I know the basics, which room she sleeps in and the clothes she wears. I know how to make her laugh, and I know what makes her cry. I know which kids are her buddies, and how to fend off the boy that always bites her. I know the exact time it will take to win back her affection when she is mad at me; and I know how to comfort her when she is sad. We are friends, and saying goodbye to my friend was a hard moment for me. I know that she didnt understand the fact that I wouldnt be back, and I know that the day we left she was probably waiting for us to return. I would never want to do anything to cause this child sadness, and I know that she is probably sad that I am no longer around. But I also know that my time there was spent bringing her joy and showing her the love of Christ, and though we couldnt stay, I know it was worth it.
Chuub Meng: He is 12 years old and has been at the orphanage for 3 years. When I asked about his history, the only thing I could find out was that He came from another hospital which he had been at for another 3 years. So here is this boy, who has spent the past 6 years of his life in hospitals and orphanages, and probably doesnt remember too much before that.
Meng and I had a special bond. We would always make faces at each other and would always find each other in the crowd of children.
One night we were able to take out Meng and Sok Leap to a pizza place. It was absolutely incredible to be able to spoil the kids a little by taking them on special outings.
On our walk to the restaurant it started to rain. Since his hair was now wet, I decided to give him a mohawk…he loved it.
Enjoying Pizza!!!
Like I said, Meng and I had a special bond. Once we moved past the face imitations we became friends. He would always come and find me, knowing that I loved him and would be so excited to see him. There were many mornings spent watching Tom and Jerry and having Meng fall asleep on my lap. Being able to take him out the night for pizza was incredible. He was so excited. I have him a piggy-back ride as we walked down the street and we played the hand-slap game while waiting for the food to come. The next day when we arrived at the orphanage he was beaming as he was mimicking our events from the night before. It was so amazing to have that time with him and give him attention outside of the orphanage.
Another child I fell in love with was this Vietnamese baby. She had arrived at the orphanage just weeks before we got there. I never learned her name, but my last 4 days there were spent with her in my arms as much as possible. She was found outside of the hospital by some of the kids. She was left there, crying and alone. This beautiful child was abandoned, and by the grace of God has found a new home.
I completely fell in love with this child. It definitely took work to make this one smile. She mostly found comfort just in being in my arms, but those moments when I would make her laugh were so precious to me. The only way she would let me put her down without her crying was when I had to let her go for meals. She needs personal touch so badly and I feel so blessed to have been able to give that to her for a short while.
Being able to spend 12 more days in Cambodia was a direct gift from God. He opened a lot of doors, and we gladly walked through them. My time at Happy Tree Orphanage was amazing. I knew before this trip that I had a heart for orphans, especially ones with HIV/AIDS, and God provided a way for me to be with these children in Cambodia. Every day was spent with them, playing games, watching cartoons, and just being present. The greatest joy I had was being able to show these kids the love of Jesus. These are God’s children and it is incredible to know that He loves them more than I could ever imagine.
