Jesus was bold, that's for sure.
He is having this conversation with the Jews that gets a little heated. They want to know who He is but don't like His answers. Jesus is using language that He shouldn't have been. Really. Jesus really touches a sore spot when He starts talking about Abraham. The Jews get really defensive. "Who do you think you are?" they want to know.
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" John 8:58
Dangerous words. The stones were picked up and they were ready to throw them at Jesus, but He slipped away.
What was the big deal?
Jesus' claim. He used the unspeakable word. He used the Name that was reserved for God only. So sacred and special was this Name that the Jews didn't even spell it with all the letters, because it was so holy. No one used the Name. It is the Name that Moses heard in the desert.
Exodus 3 is the account of Moses and the burning bush. Out of this bush that was burning but somehow wasn't, a voice called to Moses. This voice told him to go back to Egypt and the lead the people out of slavery. But Moses, scared (I think I understand where he is coming from, by the way) asked, "Who do I say told me to go?" Really, honestly, Moses is asking, "Who are you?" And God answers:
"I Am Who I Am. Tell them, I Am sent me to you."
The Hebrew meaning for this? I am here, really present, to help. He is present.
The slaves of Egypt had been crying out to God and Moses was to go to them and say, "He is here to help. He is present."
Thousands of years later, waiting for a Messiah and calling out God, Jesus came and said, "I am here to help. I am present."
And a couple thousand years later, we, who call out to God in the midst of our everyday praises and struggles can hear that voice as well.
"He is here to help. He is present." Yhwh. Yahweh.
Nothing has changed. The same God who brought the slaves from death to life through the waters, is the same God whose outstretched arms took the nails for me and you, and is the same God who was promised to be with us through thick and thin. God is faithful to that promise.
You are not alone.
He is here to help. He is present.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Dropped Stones
Have you ever just felt dirty?
Have you ever had one of those days that you just wanted to take a shower...just to feel clean?
I wonder how many baths David needed to take to feel clean after he got Bathsheba pregnant and then murdered her husband. I wonder if there were nights when he woke up sweating with guilt. Do you think he was able to sweep it under his rug? I doubt it, he was considered "...a man after God's own heart." Nope, he couldn't just forget what he did.
We can't either. We try, yes, but it always still nags us because something just isn't right.
I keep thinking of Alex's parents. Alex is a 14 year old boy at the orphanage Marlee and I worked at. He had special needs that his parents, I know, could not afford. He was too much for them. And I cannot allow myself to believe that they didn't love him, they kept him until he was 2. They kept him for as long as they could and then they couldn't do it anymore. They threw him away.
It was wrong and I hate the fact that a child was tossed away. I hate that they could see no more options for Alex. Thank God that He could see more.
Found in the garbage by police, a judge gave him life at Dorie's Promise where he thrives. He smiles and laughs and has a permanant home. He is fed and loved and cared for. Alex is alive.
But his parents. My heart breaks for them. That mama lives with the guilt, every day, that she threw away her baby. I wonder if there are nights when she wakes up sweating with guilt. Oh, how I wish she could know that he is alive and thriving. How I wish she could know there is always another way.
David cried out, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgression." Psalm 51:1
And at that moment he was clean. He was forgiven. He was free.
And then David's goal, "Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you." Psalm 51:13
I think David would seek out these parents. I think these parents are burdened by their sin. I think they need freedom.
What makes me any different from them?
He who has not sinned can cast the first stone.
My stone drops.
What about yours?
Pray with me.
Have you ever had one of those days that you just wanted to take a shower...just to feel clean?
I wonder how many baths David needed to take to feel clean after he got Bathsheba pregnant and then murdered her husband. I wonder if there were nights when he woke up sweating with guilt. Do you think he was able to sweep it under his rug? I doubt it, he was considered "...a man after God's own heart." Nope, he couldn't just forget what he did.
We can't either. We try, yes, but it always still nags us because something just isn't right.
I keep thinking of Alex's parents. Alex is a 14 year old boy at the orphanage Marlee and I worked at. He had special needs that his parents, I know, could not afford. He was too much for them. And I cannot allow myself to believe that they didn't love him, they kept him until he was 2. They kept him for as long as they could and then they couldn't do it anymore. They threw him away.
It was wrong and I hate the fact that a child was tossed away. I hate that they could see no more options for Alex. Thank God that He could see more.
Found in the garbage by police, a judge gave him life at Dorie's Promise where he thrives. He smiles and laughs and has a permanant home. He is fed and loved and cared for. Alex is alive.
But his parents. My heart breaks for them. That mama lives with the guilt, every day, that she threw away her baby. I wonder if there are nights when she wakes up sweating with guilt. Oh, how I wish she could know that he is alive and thriving. How I wish she could know there is always another way.
David cried out, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgression." Psalm 51:1
And at that moment he was clean. He was forgiven. He was free.
And then David's goal, "Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you." Psalm 51:13
I think David would seek out these parents. I think these parents are burdened by their sin. I think they need freedom.
What makes me any different from them?
He who has not sinned can cast the first stone.
My stone drops.
What about yours?
Pray with me.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Epilogue
We've been home from Guatemala for a week now. It took a couple days to get back into the swing of things. I am still tired. I am still thinking constantly about the National Orphanage and Alan. I swear that I can still smell the dump. I can still feel the hands of the children at Dorie's Promise and hear their little voices.
So what have we learned?
I am not speaking for Marlee. Her learning will come out in years to come. We'll see what seed was planted and how God will grow her to change the world...which was a big part of the reason for going.
Riley and I look at our girls and know that they can change the world. But the only way they will know how is if we model that to them. It has to be part of our everyday life...and it is! (We invited the Kirby vaccuum guy to eat dinner with us!) But I think it is also important to show them a bigger picture...the world is not like our house. I heard the complaints of some of our family, I heard the words of total disagreement before I went, but we stand by our decision to take Marlee to Guatemala.
Here is what I observed and heard Marlee talking to me about every night after we prayed and before we fell asleep: Marlee felt pain that she had never imagined and was pushed to action. She touched children that are rarely touched. She prayed for strangers needs. She fed the hungry, brought water to the thirsty. Isn't that what Jesus calls us to do? And in doing so, don't we feed Him?
The question was asked, "...but isn't she too young to see all that?" And I have to ask, "...is a child to young to share Love?" I want my kids to know that the world is not perfect and there is a need for the Healing Savior. And we give our kids to God to use them. We want this world, that God loves desperatly, to be a part of their world. Is it always safe? No. We acknowledge that. But is the Gospel worth the risk? We've answered that for our family, you must answer it for yours.
What about me? What have I learned? If Jesus were walking around here today He would have been in the dump speaking with people, He would have been touching the kids at the National Orphanage, He would have been hiking down into the canyon to deliver food baskets. Jesus would have been playing tag with the children and singing songs to the babies. Jesus would be present with "those people." And that's just what we wanted to do, we wanted to be where Jesus would be.
Some have asked, "Why can't you do this in the United States?" Well, we could have. But this time, for this one week, God called us elsewhere. Like we were told that first day, "Out of all the Christians, it is you two who are here this week." We were called to Guatemala for that time. Who am I to question where God sends? And for those who ask us that question...please remember that every other day of the year we are here in the United States praying to make that impact. And I think God allows us to...and please, please join us for Thanksgiving this year if you want to jump in with us.
Finally, we pray for our children. Everyone prays differently for thier children. But for our girls, Marlee, Ella and Maya, our prayer is that they will love God more than we do. And our hope and prayer is that God will show us how to teach them how to love more and more and more.
Our girls will love Him more.
So what have we learned?
I am not speaking for Marlee. Her learning will come out in years to come. We'll see what seed was planted and how God will grow her to change the world...which was a big part of the reason for going.
Riley and I look at our girls and know that they can change the world. But the only way they will know how is if we model that to them. It has to be part of our everyday life...and it is! (We invited the Kirby vaccuum guy to eat dinner with us!) But I think it is also important to show them a bigger picture...the world is not like our house. I heard the complaints of some of our family, I heard the words of total disagreement before I went, but we stand by our decision to take Marlee to Guatemala.
Here is what I observed and heard Marlee talking to me about every night after we prayed and before we fell asleep: Marlee felt pain that she had never imagined and was pushed to action. She touched children that are rarely touched. She prayed for strangers needs. She fed the hungry, brought water to the thirsty. Isn't that what Jesus calls us to do? And in doing so, don't we feed Him?
The question was asked, "...but isn't she too young to see all that?" And I have to ask, "...is a child to young to share Love?" I want my kids to know that the world is not perfect and there is a need for the Healing Savior. And we give our kids to God to use them. We want this world, that God loves desperatly, to be a part of their world. Is it always safe? No. We acknowledge that. But is the Gospel worth the risk? We've answered that for our family, you must answer it for yours.
What about me? What have I learned? If Jesus were walking around here today He would have been in the dump speaking with people, He would have been touching the kids at the National Orphanage, He would have been hiking down into the canyon to deliver food baskets. Jesus would have been playing tag with the children and singing songs to the babies. Jesus would be present with "those people." And that's just what we wanted to do, we wanted to be where Jesus would be.
Some have asked, "Why can't you do this in the United States?" Well, we could have. But this time, for this one week, God called us elsewhere. Like we were told that first day, "Out of all the Christians, it is you two who are here this week." We were called to Guatemala for that time. Who am I to question where God sends? And for those who ask us that question...please remember that every other day of the year we are here in the United States praying to make that impact. And I think God allows us to...and please, please join us for Thanksgiving this year if you want to jump in with us.
Finally, we pray for our children. Everyone prays differently for thier children. But for our girls, Marlee, Ella and Maya, our prayer is that they will love God more than we do. And our hope and prayer is that God will show us how to teach them how to love more and more and more.
Our girls will love Him more.
Friday, September 23, 2011
The City Dump
Another day. Another life. Another situation that is so hard to comprehend. The city dump.
As Joel took us to the National Cemetary, we were ovewhelmed both to the size of this place and the stench. I will confess, I've never been to a cemetary where vendors are selling food. Really. Who would have thought...but really, I've been hungry at the cemetary. The place really is huge. At lease 2 miles long, full of...you know...death. For the wealthier families, they buy land at the cemetary and build a mausoleum. But for the poor families, they get a place in a wall. A rented space. These families must pay a yearly fee to have their loved one there, if they do not pay for three years, the tomb is opened, the casket removed and broken and the body is thrown over the cliff into the dump.
The dump. Twenty thousand people live around and work in the dump. They are workers there...they must have ID badges. This became a new rule a few years ago when eight children were killed in a garbage slide. Children are no longer allowed in the dump, but all adults must have proper ID, just in case something happens and a body needs to be identified. And that something does happen. As bulldozers and pushing the garbage to the edge of a cliff, the workers and scrambling to keep looking for items they will be able to sale.
It is a very organized place. No one steals from another. This is their job. When a truck comes in...I think 12 workers put their hand on it. And that is their garbage, no else jumps in. Their circle of garbage is respected. They find plastic, glass, paper, really whatever we throw away, and they find a use for it. They resale it and that is how they make their money.
I aksed Joel, "Are they happy?" And Joel said, "Are you happy?" "Yes." This is their life. This is all they have known. This is where they grew up. This is what they learned to do from their parents. Do they know thier is something better? Sure. But they are content with what they have and thank God every day for providing their daily bread. I would never say that this is a place that anyone should work or live...but what has to change?
These are uneducated people. The change has to come to their children. Their children need to be educated. And in comes the organization Safe Passage. This school is built just outside the dump. Five hundred children attend and more are on a waiting list. To be in the program, parents much not use drugs or alcohol. Children must attend classes and homework must be turned it, signed. They check up on families to make sure they are following the rules...if they are not...the children are out.
It is a huge difference, this school from the rest of this world. If you look to one side of the road it is brown and dirty and void of color. When you look to the other side of the road it is vibrant with color, it is clean and there is grass.
Children are fed nutritious meals and the day we visited, they were giving haircuts. This next generation, going through Safe Passage, has a chance to change.
Safe Passage has also started a program for parents. Nutrition, parenting classes health and education. They found when kids brought their homework back it wasn't signed...it just had a thumb print on it because the mother's didn't know how to read or write. Most have no more than a 2nd grade education. So, Safe Passage started educating the mothers and teaching them skills. Jewelry making was what we saw (and bought). It is beautiful and for the first time these women are proud of what they do. Their jewelry is being sold downtown and they are being taught how to work in stores and how to use credit card machines. They are so excited to be paying taxes for the first time (can you imagine?). To be part of the program, they get to set up their own schedule and they must attend 75% of time. Fathers are also being educated in the evenings, although not as many. But...some are coming. Safe Passage is an incredible organization.
We also ate a meal with a dump family. Joel, a while back, went door to door in a neighborhood and asked if they could bring people to visit and bring a meal. This was the only family that said yes. They know that every Thursday they will have a hot meal and some good conversation. Marlee and I didn't say hardly a word...we were overwhelmed by the trash, the animals and the day old kittens somewhere beind us crying. There were no words. (By the way, the nieghbors are a little jealous now, seeing what they could have been given.)
Over all, the day was good. Difficult, but good. What I tried to show Marlee was that one person can make a difference. The woman who started Safe Passage, Hanley(?), had a vision. She saw that nothing would change unless she educated the next generation. One person changed the lives of countless more. And I looked at Marlee and I told her, "Just think what you could do? Let God use you to change the world."
Friends...it just takes a spark to start a fire. Don't fear it, embrace it. See what God can do with just one.
As Joel took us to the National Cemetary, we were ovewhelmed both to the size of this place and the stench. I will confess, I've never been to a cemetary where vendors are selling food. Really. Who would have thought...but really, I've been hungry at the cemetary. The place really is huge. At lease 2 miles long, full of...you know...death. For the wealthier families, they buy land at the cemetary and build a mausoleum. But for the poor families, they get a place in a wall. A rented space. These families must pay a yearly fee to have their loved one there, if they do not pay for three years, the tomb is opened, the casket removed and broken and the body is thrown over the cliff into the dump.
The dump. Twenty thousand people live around and work in the dump. They are workers there...they must have ID badges. This became a new rule a few years ago when eight children were killed in a garbage slide. Children are no longer allowed in the dump, but all adults must have proper ID, just in case something happens and a body needs to be identified. And that something does happen. As bulldozers and pushing the garbage to the edge of a cliff, the workers and scrambling to keep looking for items they will be able to sale.
It is a very organized place. No one steals from another. This is their job. When a truck comes in...I think 12 workers put their hand on it. And that is their garbage, no else jumps in. Their circle of garbage is respected. They find plastic, glass, paper, really whatever we throw away, and they find a use for it. They resale it and that is how they make their money.
I aksed Joel, "Are they happy?" And Joel said, "Are you happy?" "Yes." This is their life. This is all they have known. This is where they grew up. This is what they learned to do from their parents. Do they know thier is something better? Sure. But they are content with what they have and thank God every day for providing their daily bread. I would never say that this is a place that anyone should work or live...but what has to change?
These are uneducated people. The change has to come to their children. Their children need to be educated. And in comes the organization Safe Passage. This school is built just outside the dump. Five hundred children attend and more are on a waiting list. To be in the program, parents much not use drugs or alcohol. Children must attend classes and homework must be turned it, signed. They check up on families to make sure they are following the rules...if they are not...the children are out.
It is a huge difference, this school from the rest of this world. If you look to one side of the road it is brown and dirty and void of color. When you look to the other side of the road it is vibrant with color, it is clean and there is grass.
Children are fed nutritious meals and the day we visited, they were giving haircuts. This next generation, going through Safe Passage, has a chance to change.
Safe Passage has also started a program for parents. Nutrition, parenting classes health and education. They found when kids brought their homework back it wasn't signed...it just had a thumb print on it because the mother's didn't know how to read or write. Most have no more than a 2nd grade education. So, Safe Passage started educating the mothers and teaching them skills. Jewelry making was what we saw (and bought). It is beautiful and for the first time these women are proud of what they do. Their jewelry is being sold downtown and they are being taught how to work in stores and how to use credit card machines. They are so excited to be paying taxes for the first time (can you imagine?). To be part of the program, they get to set up their own schedule and they must attend 75% of time. Fathers are also being educated in the evenings, although not as many. But...some are coming. Safe Passage is an incredible organization.
We also ate a meal with a dump family. Joel, a while back, went door to door in a neighborhood and asked if they could bring people to visit and bring a meal. This was the only family that said yes. They know that every Thursday they will have a hot meal and some good conversation. Marlee and I didn't say hardly a word...we were overwhelmed by the trash, the animals and the day old kittens somewhere beind us crying. There were no words. (By the way, the nieghbors are a little jealous now, seeing what they could have been given.)
Over all, the day was good. Difficult, but good. What I tried to show Marlee was that one person can make a difference. The woman who started Safe Passage, Hanley(?), had a vision. She saw that nothing would change unless she educated the next generation. One person changed the lives of countless more. And I looked at Marlee and I told her, "Just think what you could do? Let God use you to change the world."
Friends...it just takes a spark to start a fire. Don't fear it, embrace it. See what God can do with just one.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
The Zone 7 Ghetto
Yesterday we went to the ghetto. It was different than what I expected. Although, to be honest, I don't know what I expected. On the outside it is dirty and in shambles...but the people of the ghetto were wonderful. I honestly think that if I was in need of a place to stay I would be at home.
Our day started with me being sick (again!). This happened on Sunday when we were suppose to go the ghetto. Joel said we could cancel, but I said no, we needed to go. I fully beleive that it was a spiritual force that was trying to keep us away from that place. I say that because of what happened to Marlee.
We delivered food baskets to three families. The first was at the top of ghetto and the last was at the bottom. The ghetto has been built on the side of a canyon. It was a very steep walk down very steep and high stairs.
This ghetto was built after the 1976 earthquake. Most of these families homes were destroyed in that earthquake and so they moved to this canyon and began building. But in a place where it rains a lot, what happens to the canyon walls? Mudslides. So the first family that we gave the food basket to is living in one room...because the rest of her home has been destroyed. When asked what she would like prayer for, she answered that God would provide medicine for her son and food for her family. She then knelt down on the floor, we put our hands on her and Joel and I prayed.
The second family had a newer home...because again...it had been destroyed. She had three children and her husband. When asked what they needed prayer for...enough money for school for the children (about Q30 a month) and for her husband to stop drinking. She knelt on the floor, I prayed and then Marlee prayed. This was when the change happened...this was what I think was being fought against. Marlee's prayer. Now, we pray at home around our family table after dinner every night. Marlee's prayers usually are, "Dear God, thank you for this day, please let tomorrow be nice." Every once in a while she adds in a little more, but this time she began praying for this person, for this family. That her husband would come home tonight and not be drinking, that her family would know that God loves them and will take care of them. That God would provide for them. Her prayer changed in that moment...and I don't think she'll ever be the same.
The third family was a very young family. She was 25, her husband was at work and she stayed home with their 4 year old son. Although the floor of thier home was dirt, it was immaculate. She had a lovely home. Again, her prayer needs were that her husband would continue to work and that she would find a job...and again, Marlee prayed for this person. That they would know the love of God everyday, that God would continue to provide for their needs and that her son would could go to school.
This was a good day. The ghetto was hard to see, yes, but the people were happy. They are hard workers and they trust God. Many people may look at the conditions and say, "They are lazy! They don't work!" But this simply is not true. They are a working class, living in poverty, and believing God will take care of them. And, in reality, He does. From the American stand point, we don't see it. But you will never hear these people complain. That is a lesson we, in the United States, need to learn.
Tomorrow, I will tell you about the City Dump. Tonight, I have to process it. I probably won't sleep because I will be thinking of all that I saw.
By the way, with a new president coming into office soon, it will become a reality that each family will have to pay Q125 per month, per child for school. When the average income of a gheto family is Q200-800 per month, how will they every put a child through school...let alone three? This country has a 60% illiteracy rate, with this law it will increase.
Good night friends. Be thankful.
Our day started with me being sick (again!). This happened on Sunday when we were suppose to go the ghetto. Joel said we could cancel, but I said no, we needed to go. I fully beleive that it was a spiritual force that was trying to keep us away from that place. I say that because of what happened to Marlee.
We delivered food baskets to three families. The first was at the top of ghetto and the last was at the bottom. The ghetto has been built on the side of a canyon. It was a very steep walk down very steep and high stairs.
This ghetto was built after the 1976 earthquake. Most of these families homes were destroyed in that earthquake and so they moved to this canyon and began building. But in a place where it rains a lot, what happens to the canyon walls? Mudslides. So the first family that we gave the food basket to is living in one room...because the rest of her home has been destroyed. When asked what she would like prayer for, she answered that God would provide medicine for her son and food for her family. She then knelt down on the floor, we put our hands on her and Joel and I prayed.
The second family had a newer home...because again...it had been destroyed. She had three children and her husband. When asked what they needed prayer for...enough money for school for the children (about Q30 a month) and for her husband to stop drinking. She knelt on the floor, I prayed and then Marlee prayed. This was when the change happened...this was what I think was being fought against. Marlee's prayer. Now, we pray at home around our family table after dinner every night. Marlee's prayers usually are, "Dear God, thank you for this day, please let tomorrow be nice." Every once in a while she adds in a little more, but this time she began praying for this person, for this family. That her husband would come home tonight and not be drinking, that her family would know that God loves them and will take care of them. That God would provide for them. Her prayer changed in that moment...and I don't think she'll ever be the same.
The third family was a very young family. She was 25, her husband was at work and she stayed home with their 4 year old son. Although the floor of thier home was dirt, it was immaculate. She had a lovely home. Again, her prayer needs were that her husband would continue to work and that she would find a job...and again, Marlee prayed for this person. That they would know the love of God everyday, that God would continue to provide for their needs and that her son would could go to school.
This was a good day. The ghetto was hard to see, yes, but the people were happy. They are hard workers and they trust God. Many people may look at the conditions and say, "They are lazy! They don't work!" But this simply is not true. They are a working class, living in poverty, and believing God will take care of them. And, in reality, He does. From the American stand point, we don't see it. But you will never hear these people complain. That is a lesson we, in the United States, need to learn.
Tomorrow, I will tell you about the City Dump. Tonight, I have to process it. I probably won't sleep because I will be thinking of all that I saw.
By the way, with a new president coming into office soon, it will become a reality that each family will have to pay Q125 per month, per child for school. When the average income of a gheto family is Q200-800 per month, how will they every put a child through school...let alone three? This country has a 60% illiteracy rate, with this law it will increase.
Good night friends. Be thankful.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
A Day At Dorie's Promise
Yesterday was a nice day to relax and process all that we had seen the day before. We were able to talk to Joel about somethings we had questions about with the National Orphanage, help organize room in the guest house and play, play, play with the kids.
It was so sweet in the afternoon to find Marlee curled up in bed with Nayeli Soto, trying to get her down for her nap. Marlee is so good with the kids. She just gets right in there and plays with the little ones. Last night she helped give baths and ended up getting in a water fight with one of the special mothers. Marlee was talking about that when she woke up this morning.
Later in the afternoon we painted faces and put colored streaks in the kids' hair. Everyone had a really good time.
I spent most of the day in the baby house. Oh the babies. I just love to hold them. I helped feed them, change them, play with them, put them down for naps and bed time. And I just have to kiss them all...all the time! How I love them. I wish I could bring them home with me.
Today, we head to the ghetto. We will be delivering food baskets and donations. We will also be having a pinata party with the children. Marlee is so excited about that.
Until then...
It was so sweet in the afternoon to find Marlee curled up in bed with Nayeli Soto, trying to get her down for her nap. Marlee is so good with the kids. She just gets right in there and plays with the little ones. Last night she helped give baths and ended up getting in a water fight with one of the special mothers. Marlee was talking about that when she woke up this morning.
Later in the afternoon we painted faces and put colored streaks in the kids' hair. Everyone had a really good time.
I spent most of the day in the baby house. Oh the babies. I just love to hold them. I helped feed them, change them, play with them, put them down for naps and bed time. And I just have to kiss them all...all the time! How I love them. I wish I could bring them home with me.
Today, we head to the ghetto. We will be delivering food baskets and donations. We will also be having a pinata party with the children. Marlee is so excited about that.
Until then...
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The National Orphanage
When I asked Marlee what she wanted to say about the National Orphanage she said, "It was terrible. It made me feel sad. It was very dirty." She has summed up what we saw. It was a difficult place to be. It is a large facility, it looks like a prison, which can hold 800 kids. They have more than 900 now.
When we arrived with our cake to share with the special needs older children and adults there was a lot of excited screaming from the kids and we were trampled (in a good way) with hugs and kisses. Marlee and I painted the national flag on their faces (there were approximately 30), then helped them do worksheets and dot-to-dots (moving their pencils for them) and then we handed out the cake. And, oh, the smiles. But what we could not get over was the overwhelming smell. It hits you in the face when you get there and you just cannot get use to it. Lots of hugs and an hour later they were sent back to their house and we cleaned up and got ready for the teen mothers.
Teen mothers. Some just a couple years older than Marlee carried in with them thier babies, although some of them were pregnant. We had them make a journal (thank you Mary Kroll, we will never be able to understand how important this craft was to them) and also a little project with post-it notes. When we brought out the bling (diamond stickers) it was done. They let Marlee and I hold their babies so they could decorate their journals. We then handed out the baby clothes and blankets. We were hugged and kissed and overwhelmed with gratitude. We then followed them to their house...this was part of our tour. It was nice and we told them how beautiful they had made thier space. A goodbye of more hugs and kisses...and blessings on the babies...and then we headed to the special needs house.
This house we did not go in or stay long. Although, many of the women rushed out to hug us...some with open sores and bleeding, the smell was too overwhelming and turned our stomachs.
We said goodbye..more hugs...and then headed out of the housing compound to have lunch. We were then taken to to the special needs children's house. This one broke about broke us.
Many children, stuck in cribs. Joel said that they are maybe taken out of their cribs for 1/2 hour a day...but just put on the floor. There are not enough workers to play with them and touch them the way they need to touched. When we walked in it was Alan who broke my heart. Crippled from spinal bifida, he came army crawling across the floor (FAST!) calling out, "Mama! Mama!" He had the biggest smile I have ever seen and he just wanted to be picked up. I could not pick him up, but I got down on the floor to move him to sitting position and just put my hands on his face and started to talking to him (I know! I speak english, but sometimes it just doesn't matter, you just need to be acknowledged). I stayed with him a few minutes and then got up to go to each crib or bed to touch the children and pray over them. And that is what I did. Each child got a touch on the face or head, Marlee was little more apprehensive, which is just fine, this was a lot to take in. We spoke to each child and then it was time to go. Not long, but long enough to make us cry this next morning.
This morning, while Marlee and I were eating breakfast together, I said, "It's kind of nice that we get to stay here all day, isn't it?" And she replied, "It's nice not to have to worry about getting sick or being sad."
This place, Dorie's Promise, is such a loving environment. For these 40 kids, it makes all the difference in the world.
When we arrived with our cake to share with the special needs older children and adults there was a lot of excited screaming from the kids and we were trampled (in a good way) with hugs and kisses. Marlee and I painted the national flag on their faces (there were approximately 30), then helped them do worksheets and dot-to-dots (moving their pencils for them) and then we handed out the cake. And, oh, the smiles. But what we could not get over was the overwhelming smell. It hits you in the face when you get there and you just cannot get use to it. Lots of hugs and an hour later they were sent back to their house and we cleaned up and got ready for the teen mothers.
Teen mothers. Some just a couple years older than Marlee carried in with them thier babies, although some of them were pregnant. We had them make a journal (thank you Mary Kroll, we will never be able to understand how important this craft was to them) and also a little project with post-it notes. When we brought out the bling (diamond stickers) it was done. They let Marlee and I hold their babies so they could decorate their journals. We then handed out the baby clothes and blankets. We were hugged and kissed and overwhelmed with gratitude. We then followed them to their house...this was part of our tour. It was nice and we told them how beautiful they had made thier space. A goodbye of more hugs and kisses...and blessings on the babies...and then we headed to the special needs house.
This house we did not go in or stay long. Although, many of the women rushed out to hug us...some with open sores and bleeding, the smell was too overwhelming and turned our stomachs.
We said goodbye..more hugs...and then headed out of the housing compound to have lunch. We were then taken to to the special needs children's house. This one broke about broke us.
Many children, stuck in cribs. Joel said that they are maybe taken out of their cribs for 1/2 hour a day...but just put on the floor. There are not enough workers to play with them and touch them the way they need to touched. When we walked in it was Alan who broke my heart. Crippled from spinal bifida, he came army crawling across the floor (FAST!) calling out, "Mama! Mama!" He had the biggest smile I have ever seen and he just wanted to be picked up. I could not pick him up, but I got down on the floor to move him to sitting position and just put my hands on his face and started to talking to him (I know! I speak english, but sometimes it just doesn't matter, you just need to be acknowledged). I stayed with him a few minutes and then got up to go to each crib or bed to touch the children and pray over them. And that is what I did. Each child got a touch on the face or head, Marlee was little more apprehensive, which is just fine, this was a lot to take in. We spoke to each child and then it was time to go. Not long, but long enough to make us cry this next morning.
This morning, while Marlee and I were eating breakfast together, I said, "It's kind of nice that we get to stay here all day, isn't it?" And she replied, "It's nice not to have to worry about getting sick or being sad."
This place, Dorie's Promise, is such a loving environment. For these 40 kids, it makes all the difference in the world.
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