Toro Baby Home

We went to the Toro Baby Home for a work day on our first Friday there.  Jonah ended up wanting to go back even though that wasn't the original plan and I did too.  I went one more day and Jonah ended up going a total of 4 days.  The home had 6 rooms, each with a 'mama' and 6-8 children, some with severe special needs.  Our job was to give them a break.  We did laundry like in the picture (it's hard to complain about throwing a load in when this is what they do for hours every day), washed windows, swept, mopped, fed children, rocked babies, and played with the kids.  I loved being there and so did Jonah- after our first day, he said, "Mom, I have to come back here.  Please let me come again!"

One of my most emotional moments on the trip was right before this picture was taken.  This is Annette.  Annette has some pretty special needs, though I don't know them all.  She is non-verbal, cannot walk (but can scoot around), and spent most of the time staring with her tongue out.  I saw her many times over the 2 days I worked there.  There was never any light in her eyes.  On the second day, nap time was just about over so I came upstairs to see what work needed to be done.  Annette was sitting on the 'porch' by herself- she must not have been made to nap because she couldn't have gotten herself out of a crib.  I came up and sat down beside her and started singing to her.  Just some simple songs like "Jesus Loves Me".  I rubbed her back while I sang... her back with the spine the shape of a backwards "C".  She slowly began to show some light.  She put her hand on my leg and then took it away.  I turned my phone on so we could listen to some worship music and I would sing along with it.  She began to light up.  She went from putting her hand on my leg to resting her head on my lap.  I was sobbing- the thoughts of her future were in my brain.  What would happen to her?  Would she live in this orphanage until she aged out?  And then what?  Would she go beg on the streets until she was beaten, raped or killed?  Her future in that moment seemed bleak and the need so vast.  But also in that moment, she lit up- her face smiling, pure joy coming from her.  All from having someone sit down for 15 minutes and show her love.  Love can revive a spirit.  Love can break down walls.  Love is an action verb that I need to take seriously EVERY DAY of my life.  Every time I saw her for the rest of that day, she lit up when she looked at me.  As I was leaving for the day, I thought I would see her the next day, but that was going to be the last time I saw her.  I was needed at the school the following day, so I couldn't come back to the orphanage.  I do remember leaving that day- cupping her face in my hands and telling her, "I love you."  I know she didn't know the words I said, but I pray she knows in her heart what I said- love is powerful. 

This is Doreen.  She was supposed to be about 3-4 months old. She is so tiny- look at her wrist compared to my pinky.  She has a twin sister, Jackie, who looked much larger than her. Doreen was born in Karagutu (in a clinic near the school we worked at).  Jackie was not coming out on her own so they had to transfer the mother to Ft. Portal to have a C-section and they 'forgot about' Doreen for a while.  I don't know what that meant, but she has many more issues than Jackie.  Their mother died after Jackie was born. I loved taking care of this little one- she was special to me..... 

Jonah with his 2 'brothers' he wanted to adopt- Reginald (above) and Richard (below)