I worked with the special needs kids today. It's not where I thought I'd be, or want to be, when I decided to do this but it's where the greatest need is. The "regular" babies are darling and the toddlers are so cute.....so easy to love. The workers at the orphanage said, "eventually the babies and toddlers get adopted, almost all of them". I'm so happy that is the case. Unfortunately, the kids I worked with today will never leave the orphanage. It is so heartbreaking to me.
I think of all the "constants" I've had in my life: my parents, my sisters, Tad (for the last 30 years) and my four kids. These children don't have, and never have had someone in their lives that has always been there. The turnover in this area of the orphanage is extremely high. Volunteers come into their lives for a few weeks or a month, and then they drop out of their lives forever. Workers come into their lives for several months, or maybe even years but they eventually move on too. I've spent quite a bit of time around these kids in the past week and a half, and I've learned that Ali likes to have his wheelchair pushed toward the entrance gate so he can watch the cars go by, but he has never been outside that gate. Jamal likes to high five you. Asmae loves to go for a walk but you have to watch her, because if she thinks you're going to "park" her wheelchair and take someone else she will grab one of her wheels and not let go. I won't be there next week to let the new volunteers (if there are any) know what they like and don't like. They will see new faces and hopefully they'll catch onto what it is they want/need. I will fly back home to my wonderful life that is filled with so many blessings.
I've found myself wondering what their purpose in life is.... isn't their a plan for everyone? Then, just tonight I had an epiphany of sorts. These kids are powerful, they change lives.
Good night.
I think of all the "constants" I've had in my life: my parents, my sisters, Tad (for the last 30 years) and my four kids. These children don't have, and never have had someone in their lives that has always been there. The turnover in this area of the orphanage is extremely high. Volunteers come into their lives for a few weeks or a month, and then they drop out of their lives forever. Workers come into their lives for several months, or maybe even years but they eventually move on too. I've spent quite a bit of time around these kids in the past week and a half, and I've learned that Ali likes to have his wheelchair pushed toward the entrance gate so he can watch the cars go by, but he has never been outside that gate. Jamal likes to high five you. Asmae loves to go for a walk but you have to watch her, because if she thinks you're going to "park" her wheelchair and take someone else she will grab one of her wheels and not let go. I won't be there next week to let the new volunteers (if there are any) know what they like and don't like. They will see new faces and hopefully they'll catch onto what it is they want/need. I will fly back home to my wonderful life that is filled with so many blessings.
I've found myself wondering what their purpose in life is.... isn't their a plan for everyone? Then, just tonight I had an epiphany of sorts. These kids are powerful, they change lives.
Good night.
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