Every Monday afternoon we've spent two hours at the Puerto Barrios orphanage–holding babies, chasing toddlers, playing fútbol with the special needs kids, and helping girls with their homework. Two hours a week for four weeks- that's how long we were given to show these children the love of Christ. We laugh with them, coddle them, tickle them, and scrape our knees running after them. They renew our spirits and bring us joy just by existing. We cherish these children as dearly as we will one day cherish our own. Before we know it, the sun is going down, and Pastor Roni reluctantly utters the words that make us all wince, "Time to leave." We prolong the goodbyes by continuing to stroll around the nursery with the little ones in our arms. My teammate Chase always says, "I hate going to the orphanage because I hate leaving the orphanage."
As we drive away I doubt our significance. Will they ever know how much we care? Will this month really leave an impression in their lives?
Trusting God's plan for this year means 11 months of planting seeds without seeing all of them grow to fruition.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
Psalm 37:5-6
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Mark 9:35-37
Hayden Furlow with baby Maria, Priscilla Gray with baby Angeline, and Kate Kovach with baby Jose.
Lacie reaches out for Chase Glantz to pick her up. She loves to be spun.
Mac Mitchell tried to convince these girls his name was "Not A Piñata".
Hayden keeps Maria smiling by tossing her into the air.
Mark Rowdan with David, his partner in crime.
Jill Schulenberg and her love, Julio.
To see more photos like these, check out my photo blog at seerobinfly.tumblr.com.
