Last week my teammate and I went to an orphanage not far from the city. As soon as we arrived, it felt completely peaceful and like home. When we got inside, one older child ran to play with me. My heart melted and all I wanted to do was pick the children up and give them a hug.
After spending time with the older kids, we went upstairs to where the babies were staying. It was hard to see these orphans between the ages of a month to one year old. At that moment, I knew that I was where God intended me to do His work.
We played with the babies, and saw pure joy displayed in their faces. This was a place no child should end up.
Sometimes it feels like I live in such a different world than they do. But what we go through isn’t what defines us, but what we do with this life we are given. What makes us lucky or unlucky isn’t important, but what we will give to God is.
When we were with the babies, we asked if we could take pictures with them. The staff thought about it for a moment and then said we couldn’t because most of those children are in the process of being adopted. But then they went on to add that we could take as many pictures as we wanted of the older kids.
My heart broke because they were saying most people don’t want to adopt children older than a year. What a painful reality to live in, knowing nobody wants you just because you’re no longer a little baby.
The Lord opened my eyes and heart to the “least of these” that day at the orphanage. He showed me that even in the middle of so many needs, there is always the one that needs the most and the Lord sees them all.
After I left the babies’ room, the older child that ran to me earlier asked, “Do you love me?” with a really sad face. The moment shook my world. It was such a God moment for me because first, I didn’t even know that she could speak english. Second, I think she asked because that’s what everyone does when they go to that orphanage, they play a little with the older kids but they jump to the babies room. Thirdly, I felt like nobody tells her that she is loved and to be able to tell an older kid that already feels unworthy that she is loved and found worthy by me and our heavenly father meant The WORLD to me.
I will never forget that moment that I looked in her eyes and told her that she is loved. I feel so blessed to experience these moments and to see the Love the Father for everyone especially the least of these. What a great God he is!
