Overwhelming Emotions

It was July 26, 2011 and I woke up at about 4:30am, one hour better than the day before! I just laid in bed thinking about the previous day. A wave of emotions overwhelmed me with sadness for the pain and hurt these children are feeling. I began to cry, this isn't the first time this happens in my journey. I prayed to God for these children and my role in India, whether I would be back or not. I already felt attached to them and had only spent a couple hours with them. Once again I heard the girls singing early and it was such a great start to the day!

The day was very busy. Right after breakfast, quiet time, and Bible Study we had about 150 children from Mercy Home join us to watch our skit and do a craft. We performed a skit of Noah's Ark. I narrated the story. They loved it! Then we had them draw their favorite animals on paper plates. They greatly enjoyed that as well. A reminder would be that they don't have pencils, crayons, markers, etc. at their disposal like we do. The fact that they got to use them was a big deal. We repeated the skit and craft for the next group which was over 50 kids.

Children Joined Us in the Skit

Playing Monkeys on Ark

Pic of Some Boys

Girl Working on her Picture

Showing Their Drawings

By that time we had to eat lunch because we were going to another orphanage called House of Compassion. It was about 20 minutes from Mercy Home. The home was very small with about three rooms. It wasn't enough for one person and there were about 12 children.

Room Where House of Compassion Children Sleep

We saw their house and then went to a field to play with the kids and perform our skit. A child took each of our hands to take us to the field. I was paired with a boy who I will forever be connected to the rest of my life. His name is Chandu. He is the cutest kid ever. He was very quiet in the beginning. He didn't smile or talk at all except tell me his name. All of them had uniforms on with high black socks and black shoes. They were adorable! They had never had shoes before and Back2Back recently donated them. The kids kept clapping for us and thanking us. It was really moving to see how lives have actually been changed through donations. God is so good!

Newly Donated Shoes

Chandu and Me, Like a Son to Me

Chandu

When we reached the field they sang some songs for us and we performed our skit. After that we played cricket, ball, frisbee, etc.

After playing for about an hour, we went back to the house and listened to the male house parent's testimony. It was really moving hearing how the orphanage came to be and the circumstances that some of these children were in. For instance they picked up one child at a gas station. He had scars on his back from being whipped. Hearing that made me want to cry right then but I kept it together for the sake of the kids. It seems like every child has a story similar to that one.

After that we made picture frames out of construction paper and had them decorate it. We then took their pictures to place on the construction paper. They were so excited! They never get to see what they themselves look like because they don't have any mirrors. It brought smiles to their faces. I made sure I got to help Chandu with his frame because I wanted him to open up. I helped him spell his name in English. He was still being really reserved so I had to entertain him in some way. I took some flowers and put them on his head. He smiled and kind of giggled. He finally opened up some because I started to tickle him and his friends. He laughed pretty hard. I also took a flower and brushed his ear with it when he wasn't looking to make it feel like a bug. He really liked that. He and I did that to another kid. We both smiled and laughed. I played peek-a-boo with him.

Chandu and Me

Unfortunately by that time we had to leave. We said bye to each other. He came to me and gave me a hug and waved. My heart broke right then. We had a special connection now. As the group was walking out he followed me and kept waving and smiling. He gave me another hug. We went downstairs, which was outside, to our cars. He was still waving. He moved along the ledge to get closer to me and wave bye. Then he came down the stairs and as we drove off he jumped up and down with a smile and waved. I wanted to cry. I had touched an orphan's heart. I made a lasting connection that he would probably remember for a long time.

Children Waving Bye, Chandu in Center

We went back to Mercy Home and served the boys dinner. It was a special night because they were receiving eggs. They get chicken once a week, bananas twice a week, and eggs twice a week if they are lucky. It truly is devastating. They need so much help.

Serving the Boys at Mercy Home Eggs

Spaghetti dinner was on our menu tonight. After we went to the boys' prayer time. They sang us some songs and welcomed us to sing to them as well. We taught them some new ones and the hand gestures.