There is a singing outside my window. They are clanging bells and wailing a sad tune. I dont know why, or what they are saying, but it matches my heart. It is heavy with todays work. I want to write a lot about my experience, but if I begin to tell you about the 20 or so orphan children crammed into the 3 story apartment in a less than desireable neighborhood I may not be able to keep it together. Or maybe you do want to know about the one year old, Jessica, who was fed broth for lunch and was crying incessantly. How I went and picked her up and realized she had been crying because of a dirty diaper. That the dirty diaper full of caca had started to dry on her bottom, and they had to go buy diapers because they were out. After a 10 minute wait, Flor, an 11 year old little girl helped me change her diaper and redress Jessica on a bed. Flors bed in fact because there is no changing station. Jeanetta who co-operatively runs the orphanage said when I arrived...mainly what the children need is love. I agree, there does not seem to be enough love or attention to go around.
Yes, I would rather tell you about the Plaza de las Armas, my wonderful host family, the effects of cocoa tea on altitude sickness, insane taxi rides, my Spanish lessons, my fellow volunteers, and much more but I can not. As a mother my heart is breaking. As a mother I want to grab my daughter and squeeze her til she bursts.
Tomorrow my fellow volunteer Jon and I will go buy paper, crayons, pencils, maybe some books, and I knew there was a reason I brought baby wipes. I am certain I will be buying Jessica some milk and baby food since she has none. I brought some cash to cover additional expenses and to purchase some small gifts for friends; I am afraid my friends that Jessica will be getting your gift. I hope you wont mind. Yes, they need love and protection and shelter; isnt that what we all want at the end of the day. To be loved so we are not alone in this challenging life. I will give them my love gladly; please go give someone yours.
Jessica can most glady have my gift... and if you need more, let me know... I'll figure out a way to get it there. Love.
ReplyDeleteShannon, it breaks my heart, what you wrote. You are there for a reason, and I'm glad you know your gifts are for the children there, not for us here. I wish I could be there with you for those children. I am proud of you.
ReplyDeleteThe story of that Jessica baby just makes my throat tighten up with tears... and Emma wants us to adopt her. If only we *could* do something like that! :(
ReplyDeleteI think when you get back we might need to consider some kind of fundraising event for the orphanage... a clothing/diaper drive, cash donations... heck, there are plenty of knitters in this town, why not get them organized to knit hats, sweaters or blankets? Just thoughts...
Sadly, it's easy to ignore those who need our help when they don't have faces and names... Might I suggest that you get pictures?
And because YOU'll need the support, know that everyone back here is wishing you boundless amounts of strength and compassion in what you're so bravely doing.
Thanks so much to all of you! A fellow volunteer posted on photo today on FB and I was able to video tape a small portion of the children working at their studies today! I hope to get more this week...now if I can just get the computers to co'operate!!
ReplyDeleteAlso you should know the older girls there are trying daily to get me to adopt Jessica!! It is hard to explain why I can not.