Orphans

"Adoption in God’s mind was not Plan B. He predestined us for adoption before the creation of the world. Plan A was not lots of children who never sin and never need to be redeemed. Plan A was creation, fall, redemption, adoption so that the full range of God’s glory and mercy and grace could be known by his adopted children. Adoption was not second best. It was planned from the beginning." {John Piper}

I found out that the little baby that was in the hospital from the orphanage in Shell passed away earlier this week. How heartbreaking to bury two little ones in one week. Please keep this orphanage and those serving there in your prayers.

Praise ye the Lord, for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comly. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Psalm 147 1,3 & 4

What a promise! God knows and comforts the broken hearts. He knows each one of us by name and cares for us. He knows every orphan and has a plan for each one....

This morning we went to Maria Campi, we didn't spend to much time with the children, but they gave us sorting and organizing jobs! We organized diapers and blankets, then we stocked shelves with shampoo and tooth brushes and did some other little odd jobs. I hope it helped them out, they are so unorganized that we wonder if sorting stuff really does any good some times, but we pray that we will be a blessing to them! We spent a little time with the children then we helped in the kitchen, washing dishes, a chore I always enjoy but I haven't spent to much time doing lately....

After kitchen work we had our first lesson in washing clothes by hand....I think we caught on pretty fast! But its very time consuming! The security guard had a good time watching us too, I think we were quite entertaining! But it was pretty neat, they have quite a set up!

I have grown to love all of these children, and the people I see serving and loving them! It is so encouraging to see people working hard and giving of themselves to them. I have learned that orphans are just children, yet no matter how good the circumstances, and how well they are taken care of, a child without a family is still an orphan. Every orphan needs a family.

The time flew by, and it was Natasha's last time there! We try not to mention it though....

We washed laundry, then it started raining so Natasha hung up the clothes inside...but I came out of the room and found these handing here I had to laugh!

This afternoon, we did lots of baking and cooking! We had fresh potato soup for supper, and we made chocolate covered strawberries and a Tres Leches cake for two tias that had birthdays last week while we were gone, we went over after supper to surprise them....

Of course it was raining so I had to take cover under the umbrella, then we went to the baby house, burst through the door and started singing "Happy Birthday"!! The tias were so surprised it was so fun!

Of course we had to help them get their work done before we could enjoy the cake!

He was hoping to get in on some too, but he got put to bed.....O, I remember being little....

Here is another one!

So after we got all the work done, the tias made us a drink and we sat down to enjoy our cake and visit. It was such a bitter sweet time! We have enjoyed getting to know them so much, and the time is growing short! But we will use all the time we have left!!

I know that we will surly miss these ladies!