Growing Pains

Monday afternoons are a very happy time for me. Lily Thurlow a fifth grader and I head up to Vida Nueva Orphanage and play with the kids for a few hours. We have been going for the last 9 months or so. We are really happy because the 40 some kids ages 2 weeks to 10 years old have been in a house that was really too small for them. The Lord has provided a bigger house and set up for the orphanage while they are constructing their own building nearby. The director and all of the workers are so thankful for more breathing room for all of the kids.

A typical afternoon involves playing with the toddlers for a little while. Singing, hugging and laughter fill our time. Zooming trucks and lots of funny sound effects entertain the boys and girls alike.

Then we move on to feeding the little babies. There are a few that have found a special place in my heart. Isabella is one of them. When she first came she was 3 months old but the size of an newborn, severely malnourished. She cried and cried and cried for the first bit but now she is growing happily and is healthy. She has a sweet smile and loves to laugh. Soon she will be walking. She is already standing on her own and is very strong. Praise the Lord there is a family waiting to adopt her soon we hope.



Once all the little ones are fed, changed and put to bed then we head over to play with the big kids. There are 7 of them who love any attention you can give them. Last night they were arguing over who was going to sit on my lap while we watched "Super Perro" Underdog in English. Sometimes Lily and I bring different activities to do with the big kids and they love it. We have already decided that next week we are going to bring some books for them to make. Many of them have learned how to read this year so that is lots of fun.