Friday, December 2, 2011

Morning Monkeys!

Got up at 3am, couldn't sleep but felt great so I read the word and listened to some worship on my iPod. Still not sleepy. Switched on the TV to find some premium Indian music videos. How can I paint this picture....? Loud music, fast tempo, garish costumes, outrageous mustaches, dramatic pauses and longing stares. Okay, now I'm sleepy.
Woke up a few hours later and stepped outside to be greeted by two monkeys just chillin' on the back porch off the kitchen. They looked at me like "Woah, you need more sleep" but I shooed them off and sat out in the warm sun watching the busy street below. My heart is so grateful to be back here in this foreign place which is growing more familiar by the day.

Monkeying around

We were blessed to go to Sarah's Covenant Home (which houses over 100 special needs children who have been abandoned for their various disabilities) for our first visit yesterday. We were equally blessed to meet two of the amazing women who make it run. 'Amazing' is a meager word to describe these two. They are in love with these children as if they were their own. Really, they ARE their own and they soon became very fond of us too! We were greeted with BIG smiles, laughter and even some unsure looks but before long, we were being hugged and smothered with love from little ones.

We've fallen in love with this little girl.  She is smart and sassy and gets her way already!

Helping this little boy walk
BIGGEST smile you'll ever see
School time with the boys
laughing and dancing


I had heard about SCH from a previous team and immediately knew that I would need to visit. My heart was drawn in from the stories I heard and pictures I saw. I honestly didn't know what to expect or if I'd even be able to take it all in. I remember having coffee with a dear friend just before I left and sharing with her my reservations about seeing all these children with different needs. She immediately and strongly replied "Well, its not about you, you make it about them and your emotions won't get in the way". Coming from a woman who is a respiratory therapist in a NICU unit, I took her advice very seriously.

Well, it absolutely worked. Not a tear was shed. There was no need. This place was filled with joy and peace and laughter! I didn't see any 'issues' or problems. In stead, I saw rooms filled with beautiful children with cheeky grins and outstretched arms waiting for a hug. I couldn't wait any longer, I HAD to sit on the beds and scoop these sweeties up! Soon it was lunch time and we helped with the feedings and the cleaning up - there was A LOT of cleaning up. You can imagine rice combined with a room full of toddlers.
Here's where all your odd socks end up

I don't know who was blessed more, all the children we loved on and prayed for or us mushy Americans.

Helping sort and organize donated medical supplies






Grace & Courtney's first auto experience!







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