Every now and then I read a blog that just wrecks me and haunts me. Here’s one from Stephanie Fisk, whose heart is breaking as she touches the broken around the world in this year of self-discovery and journeying in God. See if you can read it without being moved.
When we arrived at the orphanage this morning, everything was normal…
We pull up in our tuk-tuk and are greeted by a mob of eager kids. A couple of the younger boys begin climbing up onto our laps before we
have a chance to step out of our tuk-tuk. My arms are pulled in opposite directions as another kid beelines for a hug and grabs my belly. “Hello’s” and “Mammy’s” echo throughout the greeting fest.
A few photos and rounds of hand clap games later, and I am pulled back into their ‘multipurpose room” – classroom, bedrooms, dining room, play room, wash room, etc. Today, I pull out a blank piece of paper and my stop watch. They love to time themselves and see who can say their ABC’s the quickest. I think that 3.57 second was the winning time today. Some of the older boys split with my stop watch and the younger children crowd around as we pull out more paper and crayons. Still, in
the midst of the chaos, nothing is out of the ordinary.
I excused myself, and walk to the baby room. It is there that I see two of the older girls sitting on the bed facing the window. I walk up to them, and notice that they are crying. Something’s up, I think to myself. Are these girls being punished?
Just then one of the caretakers walks up to me, points to the tears, and then waves goodbye. Chantear (sounds like Gentil), my favorite girl, is leaving? This can’t be true. I reply – playing the same hand gesture game to try to understand a bit more. She waves good bye again. My heart begins to sink. Yes, someone is definitely leaving.
I bend over and gently whisper into Chantear’s ear, “Are you alright? Are you going somewhere today?” She shakes her head no, stands up and walks outside. I follow her. Outside children are beginning to gather. They look lost; like they do not really know what to do. Tears begin to fall down their little cheeks. There is a black truck parked in the front. The back door is open. I walk up to it and peer in. I count the back packs. Six back packs. Wait a second. What is going on here?
I walk back to the “multipurpose” room and notice that coloring has been abandoned. Six boys – four around 13 years old and two about 7 – are eating rice with some curry. They take a bit between their sobs. Red eyed children – friends, brothers and sisters – are standing around them. Children reaching for one another, trying to console the pain.
Due to overcrowding, today 6 of the boys are being moved to another orphanage 3 hours away. They found out yesterday. Once again they are leaving everything they know. Everything that has become familiar to them. Their bed, their home…their family. Once again they are losing their friends and family. I do not know specifically who was abandoned by their parents and who lost their parents due to death. But they know loss either way. I cannot even begin to understand the sorrow that they have experienced in their short life here on earth.
The majority of the kids gather beside the truck. It’s time to pray. The prayer immediately turns into morning. Kids grasp one another as tears stream down their dirty cheeks. Some kids weep, but no tears fall. Their well has run dry. I have heard children cry before. But I have never heard the tearless wail of children who are once again – for the second or third time – losing their family.
I felt like I was eavesdropping on a sacred ceremony.
Orphans weeping.
Jesus wept. I felt like Jesus was weeping on my shoulder this morning.
I too felt the loss.
These were six of my boys. They had ridden the water slide with me, colored me pictures and made me bracelets. They had taught me their secret hand shake and blessed my soul with their smiles, songs and laughter. They had captured my love just like all the others.
After just three weeks with them it hurt to say good bye.
After spending years growing up together, I can’t even imagine…
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I’m with you, weeping with and on behalf of the orphans. Thank for sharing such an intimate and real look of life in their shoes.
Humbly,
Diana
wow, already got a comment. i love this blog – so powerful, with such graphic pictures, as well.
Brilliant look at brokeness and Jesus!
sometimes people managing orphanages are hardened to their needs. if there is over crowding there are other ways to deal with it. my heart is broken for these little ones.
i have an orphanage in Mozambique with 40 children. we are crowded too but they are all my children. i pray more will see the need to stay and raise these children as their own. how sad is this world. lee
sometimes people managing orphanages are hardened to their needs. if there is over crowding there are other ways to deal with it. my heart is broken for these little ones.
i have an orphanage in Mozambique with 40 children. we are crowded too but they are all my children. i pray more will see the need to stay and raise these children as their own. how sad is this world. lee
sometimes people managing orphanages are hardened to their needs. if there is over crowding there are other ways to deal with it. my heart is broken for these little ones.
i have an orphanage in Mozambique with 40 children. we are crowded too but they are all my children. i pray more will see the need to stay and raise these children as their own. how sad is this world. lee
God of mercy is faithful and ready on ourside.