Monday, June 27, 2011

Casa Hogar Del Norte Update

Beautiful Bris
Bris is one of the new little angels at Casa Hogar Del Norte. She is 2 years old and has Down syndrome and is functioning quite well in the home. She can hang with the little guys for a while, but is always cautious in taking steps toward any real action. I am excited to get to know her & love on her even more!

A while back I wrote about a little boy named Carlos, who is a few days younger than Hannah. Since I met him over a year ago, he has overcome a lot of challenges. One obvious change is how he responds when someone new walks in the room. The first year at the children's home, he would scream and cry everytime anyone new came close to him or even looked at him. There were 2 caregivers he was attached to, but if they weren't within touching distance, he was a mess (and not easy to calm down). A few weeks ago, Mindy and I were in the courtyard area playing with the 5 youngest kids at the home, and he was SO CALM. Actually, he was more than calm. He played & interacted with the others. He sat under the table and invited Hannah to join him. They sat there and enjoyed a snack, then read books outloud, repeating sounds he heard us say. It was the strangest thing watching him interact, and act like everything was how it was suppose to be. I am thankful he can relax and enjoy being a little less fearful 1 1/2 year old.

Emily, a group member, giving special attention to Edgar
David & Edgar are brothers who I have also mentioned before. These little guys are special to me. I remember the look in their eyes the day they were dropped off. The confusion, fear, and loneliness that immediatly took over their body. This is always hard to watch, and I have prayed for them & loved on them many times since that day. About a month ago, Edgar and I were playing, and he looks up at the door and says that his mom just walked by. I told him I didn't see anyone, but we could check to make sure. No one was there, but a few minutes later he told me that she would be there later that afternoon to visit him. I looked at one of the workers to see her response, and she mouthed that no one was coming, and hardly ever does. I encouraged Edgar that God had sent Hannah and I to love on him and play with him that day, since we knew his mom wouldn't be able to. In the moment all I wanted to do was minimize his pain, and make our time together richer. It's been a month since he has been waiting on his mom to show up for a visit, and I still ache thinking about the pain he feels as he waits. I wonder at what point you stop looking for them to walk in the gate. Even with all of our pain, his pain, and the 163 million orphans in the world's pain, we can pray that God's promises will bring them & us comfort. I have to cling to this hope for him. And have been blessed to see & experience God's comfort in the midst of pain. Please pray for these kids. Pray for orphans worldwide. Pray for the 500+ group members that are joining us this summer, in being the hands and feet of Christ to these kids. Pray for what part God has for you to play in their lives.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

a new perspective

Last night at Del Norte we had the chance to go to a musical. The kids sang, danced, and played instruments. Their performance was amazing, but my favorite part was getting to meet some of the parents after the show. One is the mother of 7 kids at the children's home. As I secretly judged her for having so many kids, (putting them in an institution), and "neglecting" them. I was dead set on making sure she knew what I thought about her poor decisions in life. Obviously, I want the best for those kids (& assume I know what is best). But as I observed her with her kids, my judgements of her began to change. I realized we probably wanted the same things. 

She sat on the front row, snapping pictures with her cell phone, beaming with pride. After the show, she posed in pictures with them, hugged & kissed on them, payed attention to each of them, served them, held them, and loved them. She no longer looked like a "neglectful parent". Instead, she looked like a mother who was hurting because she knew she couldn't take them home with her. She looked like a mother who wanted her kids to be happy, safe, provided for, and in the best possible place. I don't know her whole story, and why she has to keep them in a children's home, but I do know that it was not an easy decision for her to put them there. It's hard for me to put myself in her shoes, because I will probably never be faced with a situation where a children's home is my only option. But the Lord allowed me to see her with a new perspective, and I am thankful for the insight. I pray the Lord will bless Maria and her family.