Hands of Love

6/7/2012 

Today was another great day with my kiddos. We had another pool day today which was wonderful as always. We had lots of fun playing with the toys and cooling off in the water. Having pool day also means extra time in the sun...so again, I am another shade darker than I was this morning. I am pretty sure that I have never been this tan before or so quickly in my life! It is wonderful! 

This morning it was my turn to get all my kids up at once for a group picture and play time. We had so much fun together! It was fun to see my boys playing together, Mr. A and Mr. C were adorable! It was fun to see Mr. A and big sister Miss W. play together and smile together. It was so fun to see all my babies at once! I understand why it’s so hard for families with multiple children to get a good picture of all of them, but we tried and we had fun doing it! 

Me with all of my babies! (L to R) Mr. D; Miss S; Mr. A; Miss S; Mr. C and Miss W.

Because I got all my babies up this morning, I was able to bring up some kids that don’t have an assigned volunteer and got them out. I brought up my B. who, after being in the pool for a mere 5 minutes fell asleep...sitting up...STILL in the pool. It was pretty cute so I took a quick video and then changed him and took him back to the nursery. Then I was able to get up Mr. M who is a little WILD man! He is into everything all the time! It was nice to be able to just put him in the pool and let him go. He likes his independence and I like that the pool is a confined space! :) 

After bring up the boys, another volunteer Holly and I brought up two of the new babies. These babies joined GLA a week ago today when the government shut down their orphanage. These darling angels came to GLA absolutely terrified of adults. They were malnourished, mistreated and deeply wounded emotionally upon their arrival. Slowly they have been warming up to the staff and volunteers. Starting on Tuesday, we brought them out to the balcony for the first time. They didn’t do much but sit in our arms because they were so scared...but today was a different story. Holly and I started with holding them closely and rocking them....whispering ‘we love you,’ ‘Jesus loves you,’ and ‘you are safe’ in their little ears. Then we got them on the floor. I thought it would be a good idea to give them some physical touch since that is an important love language, especially to babies and children. So, we put baby lotion on them...and they absolutely loved it! Their little eyes started to warm up and they both nodded when I asked them if they liked it. I said, ‘trey bien?’ (very good?) I don’t know if they understood or if they were just nodding at whatever I said, but either way, they were accepting our physical touch and our loving hands...something they would have pulled away from a week ago. 

We ended up playing with some toys and bubbles and even though they didn’t do much play (it was mostly us playing in front of them), they didn’t pull back and they accepted us playing. Our time together came to an end and we put them in the cribs again and gave them both toys. We kissed their heads and said we love you and will see you tomorrow. Slowly we walked away then turned again to see an ever so faint smile on their little faces. Teeth showing and everything. They are warming up and they are feeling Jesus’ love...probably for the first time in their young lives. It brought tears to our eyes and we were so blessed to witness this moment of bonding! 

I wish I had more time with these two new ones, but I am grateful that the other volunteers will still be here and can be Jesus’ hands and arms to these and all the others once I leave. I am just so grateful that I was able to experience this while I am still here at GLA. 

Please PRAY for these two sweet little angels. PRAY they adjust well and begin to open up and be children. PRAY that any memories of their hurt and abuse be forgotten and that new memories can be formed at GLA. PRAY that the staff and the volunteers who work closely with these two can show them that the love of Christ surpasses all understanding. 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35