I spent my Father’s Day at an orphanage. There are few things quite as humbling as ruminating on the blessings of my own father in the presence of 150 children with no dads of their own. But in the midst of children lacking nearly everything I daily take for granted, I found that they have something of infinite value that I am missing – unwavering joy.
I was slightly terrified to visit the orphanage yesterday. Not afraid of being heartbroken (though I was), not afraid of feeling their hurt (though I did), but afraid of having my heart stolen. As I have fallen in love with basically every African child I have seen on this trip, I have reminded myself hourly that I can’t steal them away from their families without some guilt and serious legal repercussions. But this was different – these little kids are waiting daily to become someone’s family. The thought of loving these kids who COULD be mine kind of makes me want to drop out of college at age 20 and become a full time mother to a clan of beautiful Kenyan babies.
When my team and I walked into Mama’s Orphanage, we were met by a scattered mass of smiling, timid faces. As I began to shake hands with each of them, one little baby caught my eye. This little guy caught my eye for a few reasons –
- He wasn’t wearing pants, or underwear for that matter (allowing me to discover instantly that he was a boy despite his pink t-shirt)
- He had the happiest smile I have ever seen, and he was reaching out his little hand for me to take it
I soon found out that his name is Georgie, and about 2.3 seconds later I also discovered that I am completely in love with this kid. Even though he is 2 years old and not quite into the talking thing yet, I have never seen a more joyful kid. A smile never left his face in the hour that we played together, and he was simply content to grab onto my hand and lead me around the dirt playground while we were there.
We spent most of our time tossing a ball back and forth, drawing in the dirt with a stick, and taking turns making silly faces. I tried to hold his hands and dance with him, but my teammates quickly discouraged me from this because it seems that Georgie was “shaking his tail feathers” a little too literally – for further clarification, reference point #1 from above.
I decided in that visit that Georgie is destined to be my son, but unfortunately, we discovered that there is a rule that requires any adoptive parents in Kenya to have lived in the country for at least 15 months before adopting. We also found out that single women can only adopt girls.
I guess what I am trying to say is that I will be home in August of 2014 instead of this July, and I am planning to elope whilst in Kenya so that I will be returning home with a husband and an adorable 3-year-old son named Georgie.
Just kidding. Maybe not. But actually (most likely) kidding.
In all seriousness, though, going to Mama’s Orphanage was an absolutely unforgettable experience. A recurring theme in the past few weeks for me has been joy – simply having joy that does not depend on circumstances. As I go about my days wrapped up in my “hardships,” I come face to face with people like these kiddos who literally have nothing.
But the orphanage is not a place of despair or of self-pity; no one would be able to tell the difficulties that these children have encountered by looking at them. Rather, Mama’s Orphanage is a place where my heavenly Father’s presence is tangibly seen through the smiles, the songs, the beauty, and ultimately the joy of His children.
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:11-13
