We went to a Children's Home here in Arequipa. The children there have been through experiences where hope seems lost, yet at the home, they are loved and cared for by people who teach them about the hope and love of Jesus. It reminds me of so many of the foster families that we have had the privilege of knowing. Children are a blessing! And those who care for them and bless them are the hands and feet of God. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14 (NIV) Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27 (NIV)
Our friends who are church planters here in Arequipa took us to the home. We rode a combi (bus) about 30 minutes to the home. All of us went except Ashlynn, who stayed home with a headache and not feeling well. This is a home for children whose parents can't care for them for various reasons. Some of the children are there because their parents are dead or in prison. Some of the children are there because their parents are too poor to care for them. Some still have their parents visit them, others rarely if ever see their parents. If you know our teenagers, then you know that they were in their element at the children's home, ministering to and playing with kids. Chris and I were too. We all enjoyed hanging out with the kids. Chris, Andrew, and Crystal played volleyball with some of them and then played with them and just hung out. I hung out mainly with the ones who were playing at the playground with our little kids. Our little kids loved playing there with the children at the home. And the children there loved playing with our little kids too. Most of the children wanted lots of hugs and wanted to ask all sorts of questions. Our friends who took us to the home speak Spanish and were able to translate.
They gave us a tour of the home. One young boy was especially excited to show us his home. It is a really neat set up with a "casa"(living area) for groups of kids. They are broken into age groups of about 5-8, 9-12, and 13-18 in the boys area and a slightly different break down of age groups in the girls area. We met the man who started the home. When he set up the home, he wanted the kids to feel like they have a family, a place to call "home", so he set up areas that were set up like homes. In their "casa", they are like family and call each other brother and/or sister. Each casa has adults who live with the kids helping with getting them up and ready for school each day, helping with homework after school, playing with them, getting them ready for bed each night, and preparing their meals. There are volunteers who live and serve there during the week and different ones who come for the weekend. They eat together in their "casa" as a family. In their casa, there is a living room, dining room, kitchen, dorm style bedrooms with bunkbeds, and bathroom. There is an open area outside where all the kids can play and a large room for hanging out and playing. One of the little boys hugged Chris and didn't want to let go.
One of the house helpers there shared her testimony with us and our friend translated. She said she came there when she was 11 years old and at first didn't want to stay. She was confused and scared. But she was shown the love of God and received much love and care from the staff there. She was there until she grew up and then stayed and volunteered. Now she is married, and she and her husband volunteer. She said that she enjoys helping with spiritual development and teaching. She wants to help the kids because she has been where they are before and many come from very difficult backgrounds and sadness. She works in the area for the boys ages 5-8. She said it is especially hard for the kids whose parents are in prison because they can't come to visit and the little ones don't understand why. She wants the kids to know love so they won't have to be sad or feel alone.
When we were preparing to leave the kids came out giving hugs and saying, "chao". They just kept hugging and wanting to take pictures. The kids and a lady who helps run the orphanage wanted to know if we were going to come back. We told them, "Yes. Of course." My friend suggested that we do a pajama party for the girls some time. How fun that will be!! It will be exciting when we learn more Spanish and are able to better communicate more with the kids.
Pictures to come.
No comments:
Post a Comment