Day 5

     Today, we went into Antigua for the day and for the team the emotional and mentally exhausting part of the day was visiting the orphanage.   Here you have children, adults with special needs that cannot be taken care of full time  by their family, so the state cares for them.   The team spent most of the time with children whose bodies were deformed by diseases or they had some other illness making them difficult to deal with for the poor families of Guatemala.

      While we were with these children , it was their nap time and they were enclosed in their cribs.   Upon looking at them in their cribs, it looked like they were in cages.   But looking beyond that ,one could see that it was for their own safety.  Even though they ranged from ages 4-13, some of the team members fed them with bottles, or spoon fed them.   Others just brought God’s love and just made them smile, laugh or just gave them the missing attention they needed.

      For me, I made a very good friend in a young lady named Veronica.   She was such a sweetie with a wonderful smile and laugh.   It took a while for me get her to open up, but once we did,  I so enjoyed making her smile by moving her arms and making goofy faces at her.   Due to the intensity of the interaction, I would have to walk away coming back later.   Each time, I came back, and she heard my voice she got the biggest smile on her face, obviously melting me, making it harder to leave.   It was an experience that will stay with me for a long time.   Even though they may have disabilities, they have the ability to experience joy, but more importantly they too can relay a life changing joy and love back to you.   That’s what happened for me.

Rick Gaffney

Visiting the orphanage for the severely disabled is always the most difficult part of the trip. The first year we went down, we were at a complete loss as to what to do with these children that had been placed in our arms. We set like bumps on a log gently rocking them trying not to hurt them as they struggled. The Mooney’s daughter-in-law took pity on us and suggested we read to them, play ball, or sing. We watched Chris run in circles with them laughing hysterically. As the years have passed, it has gotten easier to go. We are learning how to bring a smile and laughter.

As I walked in today, I was looking for familiar faces. In the first room, I realized I knew almost all of the children. Memories from previous years interaction with them came flooding back. Since they had just gone down for a nap, we could not get them out of bed, so I moved from child to child rubbing their arms or back, talking, and laughing. Laying twisted in their beds, without control over their limbs, they are still so interactive. Children in the neighboring cribs strain to get into a position to see you, smiling just at the sound of your voice. 

Valerie was particularly giggly. We had a good time talking (I was the only one talking.) and laughing. I moved on to her neighbor and Emily started playing with her. Emily told her that I was her mother, so I scooted closer to agree that yes, I was indeed Emily’s mother, wasn’t that exciting news?! Emily went on to tell her that I was 30 years old. (You all know how true that is!) Valerie cracked up laughing at that precise moment. It was hysterical. Her timing could not have been more perfect. Laughing, I told her that was not very nice, and she giggled all the harder. 

I still consider the hour we spend interacting with these children harder than mixing cement, laying a foundation, or building a house, but I know that the joy we bring by smiling, touching, cuddling, playing, and laughing with these beloved children of God is worth it. 

Marcy