Team Interacts with Orphans and Sees Great Need
(From Thursday, July 30)
Thursday was one of the best and yet hardest days of my life. Today was the day we met the 16 orphans who have been chosen to live in the orphanage. It was actually the first time Wowo, the orphanage director (along with his wife) had met all of them.
The day started early as the orphans were due to arrive at 6:30 am. It seems quite early, but the sun rises about 4:00 am here and we think the mentality was that the earlier it was, the better since many had to walk 2-3 hours each way to come and meet with us. This way they would return home before the heat got too bad. The smallest child, a little girl named Serline lives about 7 miles away.
When the children arrived, our team greeted them and had them come inside the house we are staying in. There was just enough room to seat them all around the table we eat at. We had many activities planned for these children, but they were a bit nervous at first. So we played board games with them to help them relax. After that, we did a few crafts. The best one being a canvas with their name on it. We wrote their names and they painted the rest. Those special names will hang in their room at the orphanage.
While all of this was going on, Dorina and I each pulled a child aside and with the help of a translator, we asked them some questions about themselves so that we can create a profile on each child. We’re not sure where God is leading, but we have dreams of finding at least a sponsor for each child, if not a family that is willing to adopt them. It was difficult to listen to their stories and see the faces that go with the names we’ve been praying for. We were also able to give outfits to the 16 childresn of the orphanage.
We finished off our day with a storytime and playtime back at the church with the Pignon children. Just like yesterday, it was a shortened timeframe because we needed to leave by 6:00 pm to travel to Gerby’s outstation. They were putting on an evening service for us.
I do have to confess that this was indeed my favorite day. It was the day in which I felt like this was what I was made for. This was the day in which I got to minister to the fatherless with my own hands. Just like Eric Liddle says in “Chariots of Fire”–”When I run, I can feel His pleasure.” Well I wasn’t running, but there was a deep satisfaction that I believe comes from doing what God made you to do. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for these orphans and how God has in mind to use me.
-Brandy Freeland