This week started with what will probably be our last day at the Love in Action orphanage. It was a lot of fun but very sad. I spent a lot of my time teaching them how to dance which was awesome for me. I loved it! We also did a "You Are Special Skit". "Stars and Spots". We had prayed for a translator and God provided many older girls. Even Don stuck around and played games and translated some. We took photos including a group shot and then it was time to go. Boy did the girls get grumpy! It broke my heart seeing them get so disappointed in us leaving. I am going to miss them so much. I don't want them to think we don't care. If I was older and stable in life I would adopt at least one of those girls. If I'd be aloud. My heart became theirs' so fast! I knew it was going to be hard seeing all the kids in these different countries. I love kids! I'm so excited for them but I guess I didn't think leaving them would be so hard. If I'm going to travel to three more countries I'm going to have to learn how to not get attached or how to break away easier.
There was one older girl at the orphanage who was so beautiful and would always cover her mouth. She spoke English so I got to talk to her a bit but she seemed so shy. She was so precious. 13 years old, has been in the orphanage for 6 years and has a 6 year old brother in the boys orphanage. I pray for her future. That she'd continue to learn about God and really rely on Him. That He's not just someone people come and talk to them about but actually someone she can rely on to be constant in her life.
I'm so happy these girls have a place to call 'home' though. We've passed so many people in the streets that just sleep by a tree, at the bottom of stairs, or under a statue. I feel very poor right now. This trip is hard with the money being so tight but I will always have a family, church and friends that will help me if something goes wrong. These people have nothing. They don't a shower in the morning or a pillow at night. They might not even get dinner or breakfast in the morning. It's amazing how many every day things we can take for granted. Personally I count food as a necessity for my day. I need to make sure I have money for food for the day but if I had to choose between dinner or a roof what would I choose? Shoes or a blanket? Dinner or one of my children? The last one sounds simple but unfortunately it's not a simple question in some people's lives.
As hard as some things may look for many people here and how many times my heart as broken on this trip as I've had to ignore children begging at my ankles for food, money, or water, there are so many smiles. So many laughs and giggles. So many people can always find a way to smile. It can always be worse. As long as life is still going there is a reason to smile. The only thing I wish is that these people could find happiness and have God in their lives. There would be so much more happiness. But I suppose that's why we are doing this! To share with them the one thing in life that means more, has a bigger effect, and would fill them more that what they are begging for. God is moving so much in this part of the world and I am blessed that He chose to let me be a part of it all.
