A Visit To The Orphanage
The kids from our church put on a little play, recited some poems, and sang some songs about the meaning of Christmas at an orphanage yesterday. I went with them, as this orphanage is nearby and it has been on my heart to go. It is always so sad for me to see kids in orphanages. The caretakers there are very kind and loving to the kids and the facility is clean, but there are probably 15 kids per 1 adult and over 100 kids in the building. And even though these kids are aged 2-5 (and probably some older) the two and three year olds looked to be the size of Anneka and the older ones weren't much bigger. They just aren't thriving the way that kids should thrive. And that makes me sad.
The above picture was taken outside of our little church, on the 5 minute walk to the orphanage- carrying little presents (candy, pens, little notebooks) to give to the children.
The kids from church who put on the play did a really good job and were so cute. They acted out the story of "Jesus" appearing to a man in three different forms and he gave them something to drink, eat, and clothing to wear.
During the play, one little girl walked over to the door and tried to open it. As I steered her back to her seat, she called me "mama". Another little girl sat in the front row, rocking back and forth. Inka later told me that she just wanted to hold her. Another little girl looked a lot like Anneka (a sickly form of Anneka). What would her life be like if she had a loving family?
Inka and I and at least two others want to go back regularly to this orphanage, to form a "team" to reach out to them. It's close by, it's on our hearts, and we really have no excuse not to. This is kind of risky because I probably will want to take them all home with me, and no doubt there will be heartbreak. But these kids need to know that they are loved and that they have a heavenly Father who loves them perfectly and who will never fail them.
posted by Leif and Jami Gustafson @ 6:16 PM
5 Comments:
It breaks my heart too seeing all those little children
without families. It will be hard for you Jami to help
and not take children home with you...I remember I was almost a baba to a 13 year old. When we come
in April, I desire to help at the orphanage also.
Wow, that is heartbreaking. We will start praying for those children. Do many of them have the hope of getting adopted or is it expected that they will grow up there?
Dear Jami,
What a wonderful heart filling ministry that will be for those children. I know any extra attention you all bring will be a real blessing, and God will surely be seen through your actions. There are so many needy children and it hurts my hear too to see them so needy so young. God be with you all in this brave project. MamaIrene
Oh, my heart hurts too for these children. How wonderful that it is close to you, though. God will use you to love those children in special ways. How much does it cost to adopt a child in Russia?
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