Four Friends, Four Years, For a Difference

As much as I can try to capture the experience and emotions of helping in an orphanage I will do my best. This by FAR has been the most moviing and "life Changing" experience of my life. I only wish I was there longer to make a bigger impact, but I know that I will do my best to return next summer with even more supplies and more time to spend with those beautiful children.
    When we first arrived at the orphanage, it was a bit overwhelming. We arrived with all the supplies our luggage could carry. We had bibs,cups, special spoons, botttles,books,toys, crib sheets,pillow cases, and clothing. The staff was so appreciative of all the items we brought and we were able to put many of the things to good use right away. Since many of the children were already up, we went right to work trying to stimulate  them with the toys in our kits we made, We used bubbles and watched as the kids tried to pop them. Seeing their  somber faces transform into bright smiles overwhelmed me with emotion!
 One of my favorite moments was when I got a chance to read to one of the little boys stuck in his crib. As I read in Spanish, I acted out the actions that the book was saying, Amazingly,the little boy began to  copy my gestures. He truly was understanding everything i was saying! It was the best feeling.I continued my way to the numerous other cribs trying to get some kind of reaction. It was so sad to see so many  children with so little stimulation! 
 Later, we had a chance to work upstairs helping the staff to feed the many babies with cleft pallate and other developmental disabillities. (I was able to feed an 18 day old baby! ) In just two days, we made many attachments and I knew it was going to be tough to leave. One boy named Jose really made an impression on all of us. He was 5 years old, but to look at his scrawny, malnurished body, you would have thought he was under two. . NO matter what any of us tried, we just could not get him to smile.All he wanted was to be held and we each took a shift as we walked him up and down the nursery. It was the hardest thing I had to do, when I put him down to leave for the last time. The last image I have is the vision of him, sitting on a stool as he realized it was time for all of us to leave. He cried and we  tried to conceal the tears as we all silently wondered if we would ever see him again.