Day Two and Three

Waking up for Morning Two.

Aside from me being in tears much of the drive to the orphanage, the entire place was filled with happiness and song. As soon as we saw the children from the van, I noticed many of them wearing Matilda Jane we sent years ago.

From the moment our feet hit the ground we were all consumed with so many emotions. I think for me, it was just seeing these happy children, in the most beautiful landscape 1/2 way across the world, singing and dancing only to finish up and run and wrap their arms around us. When they sang ” thank you Matilda Jane Clothing” we were all brought to tears again.

(Sharing in Prayer for Chelsa)
The kids shared their stories. Stories that none of us were prepared to hear. Stories that no one is ready to believe. A little boy discarded in the bushes a few miles out of town, a young girl sold to men, or a 7 yr old left to raise his two younger siblings are all things that are not all that uncommon. They are also all things no child should ever hear of yet, let alone experience.

I’m trying so hard to find the words for you to be able to feel all the emotions that shot right to our core.

(Selva helped me paint!)

Day Three

Totally never finished the above post. Sorry!

A bunch of us got up at 4:30 to head over to the orphanage. I remember in Peru how the mornings were my favorite filled with giggles and songs. We definitely had to experience that. After all, we’ve got our whole lives to sleep. Stuff like this only happens once in a lifetime for some of us.

So here I sit in the bouncing van. You’ve never experienced potholes like this. Gosh!

(Giving Dana a necklace)
Yesterday we all started out at the feeding center and the 300 kids surprised us with songs and dancing. The feeding center is located right on the outside of the slums. It almost feels surreal to drive through with kids chasing the car yelling “Hello. How are you?”. And I’m not talking 3 or 4 kids.

Of course the center is fenced in and to see the little ones clinging to the fence wanting to get in breaks your heart. And the thing is, you have to keep control on what you are doing to help. Of course your heart wants to let everyone in, but it would be chaos and then no one would benefit. Someday we’ll be able to do more.

(My shadow, Linda)

Sorry, my brain is a blur right now. I’m tired. So tired. Tonight we are going to have dinner with Hellen and Richard and I’ll share that story with you tomorrow.

(My other shadow, Bryan)