Monday July 14 - Visit to baby home

Our first day of ministry was very hot. We roasted in the hotel and on the bus but when we got to the Baby home, the heat didn't matter. For those of you who are new, a baby home is an institution where infants from newborn to about 4 years old live. These children have been abandoned at birth or taken from unfit parents. Many of them are adoptable but not all of them find families so they are put into the system and live in boarding schools / orphanages.

Dan volunteered our group to go and see the disabled children who rarely get visitors. We were lead up a winding flight of concrete stairs to a locked door. The doctor rang the bell several times before a caretaker answered. As Dan, Sharyn, Jennifer and I entered, we were asked to remove our shoes so we could go in the play room. The children had just eaten and before we even got in the room, they came scampering around the corner, laughing and smiling, throwing their little arms in the air begging for attention. Some could walk, others scooted on bent, lifeless limbs. We had a wonderful time sitting on the floor playing with them, giving gifts of beanie babies and Bible story books. All were hungry to be noticed and climbed into our arms and laps seeking to be loved. Although Olga our interpreter was with us, we needed no interpretation because most of these little angels could not communicate verbally. However they fully understood our hugs, kisses and embraces.

After we had been playing with the children for a while, the doctor asked if anyone wanted to see the children who were immobile. Sharyn and I immediately said yes and were taken to another room with four severely disabled children who were lying on the floor on pallets of blankets. I knelt down next to a little angel named Irena whose legs were very stiff. Her face was expressionless until I took her tiny hand and began to gently rub her arm. A huge smile spread across her face and she turned her head in my direction. The doctor said Irena's smile is the only response she is able to give to any kind of stimulation. My eyes filled with tears as I thought about this little life whose only response is a smile. She didn't cry or speak, only smiled. I continued to rub her hands, legs and feet and to speak gently to her. She seemed to relax a little and enjoyed the stimulation. The doctor said Irena is 4 years old but she is the size of a one year old. He said they would keep her in this facility as long as possible so she will receive good care.

Next we were invited to go outside to play with the other children. Many of our group were already out there handing out little hats. One affectionate little girl literally ran over to me and demanded to be picked up! Her name was Marina and she was adorable. The picture above is of me holding Marina. We rubbed noses, played patty cake and horsey ride until I was worn out! I tried to get her to go down the slide with some other children but she absolutely refused to leave my arms. I knew leaving would be difficult so I got one of the little hats we had brought and put it on her. She seemed happy to have it but it was not enough of a distraction for me to slip away. As soon as she saw me walking away she started to sob, my heart was sobbing as well as tears splashed down my hot cheeks. I silently prayed that the Lord would send her an adoptive family very soon.

The last part of the visit was a trip to the kitchen to give the cooks our special gift of aprons that tell the gospel story. Frank Sladko and his wife Mary started the gospel apron ministry a number of years ago. Mary recently died but Frank was with us on this trip. Frank and I went to the kitchen and found four precious ladies who were cooking for the children. Frank explained what the aprons were for and said his wife had made them. All of the ladies were looking at me as if I was the wife, then suddenly they started hugging and kissing me! We had to explain I was NOT his wife but they didn't seem to care and kept hugging and kissing me. As always, the ladies were so appreciative that someone had thought about them and brought gifts for them. We took photos of the ladies with their aprons on and talked to them about a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Three divine encounters at one location - God blessed me far more than I could imagine.