It was dark when we got to meet our kiddos.
Though it was difficult hard to see, what I saw left lasting images in my heart… oh, for words to describe! Kiddos everywhere, all speaking in Spanish, a few of them proudly telling us their names and favorite color/game in English. Iphones were a fascination and produced for viewing, cameras were instantly swarmed and pictures were asked for repeatedly, it didn’t matter if it was so dark that the camera couldn’t focus. hehe.
Thursday night, it all began. Hugs, smiles, mischievous looks, shy glances, curious stares… kiddos climbing all over our 6′ 3″ guys. Thursday night, we ate dinner at our own table (we were “guests”), looked at each other and around us at the kiddos with a kind of awe: “We are really here. Wow.”
Friday morning, I woke up feeling pretty bad. Most of our time in Colombia so far, I had felt at least 65% [which is pretty good, just take my word for it] I mean, we were all tired, but I hadn’t truly been sick. So thankful… but Friday morning was a different and unwanted story.
I thought it would wear off, but it didn’t. The kiddos had school till the afternoon, so the team spent most of the morning and afternoon gearing up for crafts, games, skits and the photography classes. I spent all of the morning and afternoon in bed. It was miserable… not just being sick, but missing out out being with the kiddos… it was my afternoon to teach “Rule of Thirds” in photography class. What made it even worse was that I was laying in bed, and could hear the laughter, shouting and sounds of dozens of children right outside our quarters… and I didn’t know any of their names yet. I hadn’t got to connect and truly love them yet. I hadn’t experienced it at all, and I was helpless to simply lay in bed, drink tons of water and pray for sleep.
I slept. And… I did cry over the loss of a day. Not.gonna.lie.
But there is something about being still, waiting before the Lord and a precious, quiet, but strong presence He gives. I flipped open my bible and started reading Psalms: “The Lord is my strength and my shield… my heart trusteth in Him and I am helped… therefore, my heart greatly rejoices.” [28:7] I began to pray, pray for the kiddos, pray for our team, pray for friends I knew who were very ill back at home, pray for Jesus to work and be glorified… and I prayed, that someday, I would be able to return.
In our weakness and vulnerability is often when He speaks to us so clearly… because we are truly listening. Friday was a precious day, in the midst of the pain, I was close to the heart of my Jesus. Our team was fabulous, if I haven’t said it before… they prayed and cared and would pop their heads in throughout the day to check in on me. It so blessed my heart to know people were praying and caring.
By the evening, I had slept at least 4-6 hours, drank half our team’s water and was feeling strong enough to at least get some fresh air and take my camera to capture some images::
Kiddos everywhere, playing games, hanging out… the basketball court was covered in all sorts of chalk art and there was lots of holding hands, hugging… smiles and laughter. Oh, the sounds still flood my heart. Is the heart of God nearer than at an orphanage? “You are the helper of the fatherless. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.” -Psalms 10:14,17-18
Saturday morning, I was feeling stronger, and able to help take portraits of all 60+ kiddos. Yeah we had three cameras and three lenses and it was epic. I was also able to teach some in our photography class and do review with them of what they learned the day before. Translators are incredily wonderful… what a joy our translators were to my heart! It was rather more complicated than I anticipated to communicate certain photography words and concepts! I often felt like a Thesaurus… “How else can I put this, what other word can I use instead?” It was an adventure! My two precious girls, Natalia and Ingrid had quite the “artistic eye” and eager to explore and learn. Saturday was filled with tons of picture taking… capturing the preciousness of the kiddos doing what they love, soccer, playing, hanging out together, being with our team.
Observations:: These kiddos have so little to call their own… some of them even shared each other’s clothes. They have very few earthly possessions. Friends are very important to them. They love being close to you. Words are not necessary for friendship because actions speak louder than words. Eyes tell stories… some were very hard and distant, others were hungry for love and desired to be close. They love attention. Most of them loved having their pictures taken. They loved it even more when you let them take a picture of YOU [never mind they had no idea what an SLR camera was and that the picture wasn't focused or even mostly of you. hehehe]. They love competition. They smile a lot… despite their lack of possessions, family, and most other things the world would put value on. Jesus is taught there. So if they get that… they get everything that matters.
You can experience a few moments of the sights and sounds on this video I took.
Saturday evening, we finished photography class [which had been the oldest 12 students at the orphanage] and presented each student with an 8×10 image of our own personal work… they loved.loved.loved them. These kids have such a heart to give… moments after handing out our images to them and telling them the stories behind each one, one of the boys came up to me with a translator and asked if he could have another picture to give to his teacher and his best friend. [I was so glad I had printed extras, seriously.] Some of them cried as we gave them hugs and took a group picture. Even the shy-boy who wouldn’t even hear of having his portrait taken earlier that morning was more than willing to get in our group shot. We closed the evening with a group skit [thank you, Christina for the pictures] and then a HUGE surprise… a bonfire, glow sticks and s’mores!!! Yes, most of these kiddos and never had a marshmallow… it was a sticky, darling, hot, bug-infested mess but so priceless.
And then… Sunday morning. The day of departure. The day it took us two and a half hours to actually leave… [goodbyes are never easy and often not short, especially in South America! *grin*] We did church, did two last crafts which we all helped with, handed out portraits of the kiddos [which we had printed off with a printer Christina brought and had to fight to get to work till like 2am] sang songs we had taught the kids one last time, put on one more skit, took pictures and attempted to leave I think at LEAST three times… each time put off by more hugs, tears, prayer times, thank you’s, etc.etc.etc.
They love singing. Can you resist the cuteness?
This is my Ericka… [Brandon and Daniel would fight me for her, but I think I would win] I miss her so much. I miss holding her in my arms.
Her eyes melted me everysingletime and she would old her arms out to be picked up or hugged… ah, be.still.my.heart!!
Yes, the length of craziness we will go to for skits. Always moments of laughter happening!!
Yes, Lord Rillian made it to the orphanage as well…
We did finally leave…
Believe it or not, more adventures awaited.
More on that to come later.
Needlesstosay, we all had left most of our hearts behind in an orphanage in LaMesa, Colombia.
As Brandon so sweetly put it: “I want to just take this entire orphanage and all these kiddos home in my suitcase.”
I think we all agreed.
[Thanks for setting up the group photo, Christina. You are wonderful.]
Just.in.case.you.missed.it::
Part one of [Adventures 2012]: Chia, Colombia
Part two of [Adventures 2012]: Bogota, Colombia
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