Visiting the slum

Today was a heartbreaking day! From the torn clothes to no shoes to no diapers, the conditions were less than favorable for little ones. It had rained the night before so traveling into the slum meant skating down the hill on a sheet of mud. You had to go with it or you would land in the mud! We all made it and stepped inside the gate of the Good Samaritan Orphanage only to be met with more mud. About a million kids poured out of a small room and met us in the courtyard. Even though it was rainy and cool, the kids were so excited to see us and had big smiles on their faces. They sang several songs and then just as we were ready to begin the bible story it started pouring down rain. We moved into the small room the kids originally came out of. There really wasn't room but we all squished in as Robyn read the parable of the Farmer and the Seeds. The rain stopped so we went back out into the courtyard and passed out peanut butter sandwiches. They finished them and then we tore the remaining halves into thirds and passed them out again! It was hard to see them get so excited about a half of a sandwich! One of the team members saw a little boy take a bite out of his sandwich and then stick it in his pocket to save for later. Then, even though the ground was still very wet, we passed out crayons and coloring pages. They colored using chairs, a table, the wall and each other! One of the team members asked the pastor how he could continue to work there week after week. He said it was because that is where his heart is. When he looks into the eyes of the orphan often he sees only emptiness, but he hopes to plant the love of Jesus and pray it takes root in their hearts. As we left, we felt guilty that we could leave but they had to stay there. On the way back up the hill the missionary told us we could not have gone in there alone. The only way that we were safe was because of the missionaries work and the good they have done there.