Processing it all: Orphanage and Day at the Zoo

Hello Friends and followers!  Greetings from Guatemala!

We arrived in Guatemala City on Monday night.  We have an amazing team of 15 that have come together from Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, and Louisiana.  I have to say that there have been some very happy moments and some very sad moments the past few days.  I've just gotten time to sit down and "process" all that I've taken in over the past few days.

We've spent the last two days with the children of the Hogar Luz de Maria (the orphanage).  The first day was spent at the orphanage doing craft projects and playing with the children.  I have to admit, that first day was extremely emotional.  I did not know what to expect.  I was fearful about being able to "keep it together".   (As were a couple others...so we promised each other we'd keep each other in check!)  When we arrived at the orphanage, which was a little non-discriminant door on a busy, bustling street, we were greeted by one of the nannies.  We were led through the bolted door and front courtyard to the little rooms where the children were quietly waiting for us.  They were all obediently sitting in their little chairs.  The little eyes peering up at us, touched my soul and I started to lose it.  I looked up at a couple of other members of our team and our eyes filled with tears.  I stepped outside for a moment and was on the verge of sobbing.  A couple other team members stepped out as well.  And we took our moment and then pulled together.  I said to myself "Sondra, it's not about you."  And the moment, we stepped back into the room, little hands found ours and we were whisped away to a day of just pouring love into these little children. 

There were 29 children, under the age of 5. Apparently after they turn 5, they are moved to another orphanage for either girls or for boys. Some of the children are brought to the orphanage because their mothers cannot afford to cafe for them. Others were brought from the hospital. Some have been found on the streets alone. And some just arrive on their doorstep. They suffer neglect, abuse, malnutrition, and starvation. But, most difficult of all is they are starved of love. Several of the children clearly have medical conditions. One little boy is undergoing treatments for leukemia. Another appears as though he may have cereral palsy. The orphanage is trying to raise $100 for him to have a CT scan to diagnose his condition. A little girl walked with a limp and has been partially paralyzed since birth. And a little boy is in need of surgery on his eyes. Many of the children have skin rashes and scars. Although, I have to imagine none of the physical scars compare to the emotional scars of what they may have experienced in their young lives. They were all so quiet and reserved. The nannies were very loving and caring, but honestly having 4 nannies care for 29 children (about 7 babies) and some children with special needs is a highly-demanding job.played

So, we played with the children, did crafts, read to them, held them, tickled them and just gave lots of love and attention. We had pizza and gave them all their new shoes handmade by Otto! It was a special moment. 
Here are pictures at the orphanage:

This is Hogar de Luz Maria--the Orphanage

Me reading the books we donated

Comforting Little Ones

Craft Time!

The kids were playing house and READING!!

Story time

"Mama" leading the prayers

Prayer time

The girls in their new shoes!!!

Julio...suspected of having Cerebral Palsy is
 in need of a CT Scan that costs $100 to diagnose his condition.

Amy holding babies!

Cindy holding babies!

Eating pizza for lunch!

Cindy assisting little finger painters.

These are the custom-made shoes for the boys.

These are the custom-made shoes for the girls.

The boys opening their goodie bags

Sebastian was the happiest baby!

Thanking Jesus for the new shoes

Val playing with babies

This little sweetie just kept blowing those bubbles!

Val helping Julio stand

Each child received a pair of custom-made shoes!

They were very proud to have their names called!

Formula donations!

Wednesday we met again at the Zoo in Guatemala City for a fieldtrip with the children.  It was a very special day for them, as I'm sure they never see outside of their safe little haven at the Hogar.  Little Roxanna became "mi amiga" for the day and just wanted to hug me and touch my face and smile at me.  She fell asleep on my shoulder and wouldn't let me put her down.

So, I've been really "processing" all the emotions from the past two days and trying to put it all together in my head.  HonestlyI  have struggled with the notion that these are God's precious children and I know he loves them and is watching over them.  Yet, they endure so much.  And I've struggled even more with the notion that there are children like these children all over the world that are unwanted and hungry and starving for love.  And it makes me feel helpless, even though I know we've made a difference in a few of these little lives.  And when they lay their tired little heads on their crowded little pillows tonight, maybe they'll remember our faces and the feeling of our hugs and have "suenos dolce." (sweet dreams)

I'll post pictures when I get home from the trip.  If you are friends with me on facebook, you can see a lot of pictures on my facebook page that others have been posting and I've been sharing them.  And I'll try to write more later.  Tomorrow, we go to the village of Pueblo Nuevo to do childrens ministry.

With Gratitude,

Sondra