First of all, forgive me if my posts have been sporadic in thought and if i've been having frequent fragmented sentences. Most video editing and postings are happening way too late at night!
Our Schedule:
Day 3 (July 7)
- Remar all day (private orphanage housing approximately 400 kids)
Day 4 (July 8)
- Remar in the morning
- Elisa Martinez in the afternoon (governmental orphanage (68 boys w/ 40 special needs))
- Soccer w/ Transitional Kids early evening
Both of the videos below have a mix of 2 days put together:
WOW!! Visiting the Remar orphanage has completely flipped our worldview upside down! In the beginning my main purpose for us to go on this trip was to hopefully create a passion for ministry within our kids and for them to gain exposure to the needs around them. I never expected it would completely give us a greater picture of who Christ is and His love for us. This has definitely been a life changing experience for us all today being at Remar. Having over 400 kids it was overwhelming seeing how many kids were in one place. Having a lack of staff & supplies only makes you wonder how little treatment and care they are getting. More so, you wonder how little love they are getting.
Here is another video when we were at the Elisa Martinez orphanage, the boy's home. They were so fun to be around and so joyful. Watch this video for a glimpse of what we did:
During worship tonight one our leader, Jon Rankin, led a devotional on how being with the orphans today has changed our perspective on being adopted by Christ and the implications that go with that.
Leaving the Elisa Martinez & Remar orphanages was such a heart breaking experience for us all today! Personal story: A girl Tayler and I really connected to was Margarita. When we first got there she was sitting in the sun by herself having absolutely no expressions whatsoever. Having bugs all over her face and eating dried up milk it was obvious she doesn't get much attention, along with so many others. 24 hours later, after a clean bath and a lot of loving, she was completely different and was quietly joyful about life. Everyone else had very similar stories and wondered what a drastic change this could make on a orphan's life if we were able to adopt a child. The hardest part was realizing that when we leave, these children will go back to having little to no attention and being malnourished.
All of these experiences, along with Jon's devotion, truly gave us a better picture of what it means to be adopted by Christ. Being chosen, we have received a heir greater than any man could ever give. Just like a child will receive all things when being adopted we too receive all things the Father has. Just like a child's life and worldview will drastically change when being adopted so should ours. How sad is it that He has blessed us so tremendously but yet we are so ungrateful and/or oblivious to the gifts of God. Watching these orphans be so thankful with little makes me sick to think about how discontent we are with much. This experience has definitely gave us a greater appreciation for being adopted into Christ's family. It has shown us that our life should be a life lived in gratitude for what the Father has done for us.
Well, again, leaving these orphanges was really hard to do. With many tears shed (even the guys), it is so sad to leave the orphans knowing that they will go right back into their homes with very little love and attention. Though sad it has encouraged us to know that God will never leave us. And though our hearts break how much more does the Father's heart break for us. He is always there and will never forsake us!
Also, view Hailey Moore's Blog, one of our students, to see a preview of pics. She should be posting quite a few pics by tomorrow evening. Check it out! She takes amazing pictures!!
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