My Contrast

Tuesday I worked at my off site (an orphanage we visit once or twice a week for one shift). My site was Azogues. This site is very different than the usual orphanages we work in. It was what I call the contrast. The orphanages we mainly work in are OSSO`s orphanage and OSSO's neighbor (an orphanage worked by kind Catholic Nuns).  These orphanages have many children but are split into different houses that have around 5 to 8 kids each.  They are clean, organized, fairly consistant and stable (as much as an orphanage can be), and have lots of love to share.  Azogues is a completely different experience.  When we arrived I was honestly shocked. I didn`t know what to expect, but I did not expect what I came to.  There were 27 kids and 2 workers. One worker did school classes while the other kept the other children alive. We came in to what seemed a little bit like chaos.  But without Azogues, these kids wouldn´t have a place to go.  As I swept up, paint from the wall crumbled onto the floor. The dishes were piled far too high. No one had any personal space.  The only part that was at all similar to our regular orphanages was the resiliance and the love that the children had.  They were so accepting and excited to have us there.  I couldn`t help but love them.  It was emotionally draining though.  I wanted to do more. I wanted to be able to help them. I could hardly believe the conditions they were in.  All I could do was love them and do my best to let them know that there are soooo many that care for them. The hardest part was that we could either clean one thing very well, or everything okay.  And even after we cleaned, it didn`t take long for it to seem like we had done nothing. But I knew that we had, and the workers and the kids were better off than without us.  I have tried to say that this experience was not hard. But if it wasn`t hard I wouldn`t have anything that I learned much from. I can definitely say that this experience is hard, but I am so happy that it is because I am learning sooooooo much from it.  Around the osso house there are quotes every where that mostly talk about how children are a way  we see heaven on earth and that we are God`s hands that can help show his love for all his children.  That is so true.  These children, although they may misbehave sometimes, they simply want to know they are loved.  We have so much to give, and although donations and things are nice, there is nothing better than time and love.  These kids have quickly become my life.  I love them so much and all I want to do is help them as much as possible in the 3 weeks I have left.  There is nothing better than a child sharing their love through their smile.

*note names of children &/or orphanages have been changed to protect the privacy of the children.